source: g. stylianou - writing for computer science, justin zobel ethics

Source: G. Stylianou - Writing for Computer Science, Justin Zobel

Ethics


Introduction

• Science is built on trust• Researchers (Scientists) are expected to be

honest• The major societies of science have codes of

conduct that scientists are expected to adhere to– http://www.acm.org/about/code-of-ethics – http://www.ieee.org/about/ethics.html

• Even senior academics have been sacked for offences committed many years earlier


Plagiarism

• Example– http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/plagiarism/famous-examples-of-

plagiarism.html

• Definition– The re-use in one-paper of material that has

appeared in another, without appropriate acknowledgement.

– It may involve ideas, illustrations, results, text or even whole papers.


Plagiarism

• Suppose you found a nice illustration in a book and want to use it in a paper– Copying it is plagiarism

• Suppose you found a paragraph in a reference you feel you cannot improve– Using it is plagiarism– Even close paraphrase is plagiarism


Example

• Suppose Barlman and Trey (2001) wrote– The impact of viruses has become a major issue in

many large organizations, but most still rely on individual users maintaining virus definitions, with no internal firewalls to protect one user from another. However, any structure is only as strong as its weakest link; these organizations are highly vulnerable.


Example (cont.)• [You wrote]

– Viruses have become a major issue in many large organizations, but most still rely on individual users maintaining virus definitions, with no internal firewalls to protect one user from another. However, any structure is only as strong as its weakest link; these organizations are highly vulnerable. (Barlman and Trey 2001)

• It’s plagiarism. You provide a citation but it is not clear that it refers to the whole block of text

• Also, the wording has been copied


Example (cont.)• As discussed by Barlman and Trey (2001), who investigated

the impact of viruses in large organizations, “most still rely on individual users maintaining virus definitions, with no internal firewalls to protect one user from another. However, any structure is only as strong as its weakest link; these organizations are highly vulnerable.” [CORRECT CITATION]

• Barlman and Trey (2001) investigated the impact of viruses in large organizations. They found that organizations are vulnerable if individuals fail to keep virus definitions up to date, as internal firewalls are rare. [CORRECT CITATION]


Self-Plagiarism

• If you re-use your own text you are plagiarizing.

• Using the same text twice means you try to publish the same work twice.– There are rules for every conference for the work

to be original• Many think it’s acceptable to re-use the same

background material in another paper.


Self-Plagiarism

• Arguments against:– If you are habit is copying the background in each paper,

the material is likely to rapidly become stale– A high quality discussion of background, makes it easier for

the paper to be published• Publication of more than one paper based on the

same results is prohibited• Even if you publish like that, you create permanent

records. Sooner or later you will be discovered.


Misrepresentation

• This is when a paper does not accurately reflect the outcomes that were observed or the contribution of previous research.

• When presenting results you are expected – to ensure they are accurate, – to describe any issues or limitations, – provide enough detail for reproduction or verification, – be fair in description of other work, – report negative and positive results, – ensure the statements are complete and accurate.


Authorship• Deciding who has merited authorship of a paper can

be a difficult and emotional issue• A broadly accepted view is that each author must

have made some significant contribution to the intellectual content of the paper

• So directed activities such as programming do not merit authorship, nor does proof-reading

• But participation in the conception, execution, or interpretation of the results up to some degree merit authorship.


Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest

• You need to respect each other’s privacy• Access to somebody else’s data doesn’t mean you are allowed

to use it or disclose these results to other people• You must disclose your commercial relationships that may

affect a paper• When refereeing papers or grant proposals you must reveal

any conflicts of interest• Examples: papers by a recent advisor, student or co-author of

the referee, paper replicating your current work, etc.• In any case contact the editor ASAP.


Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest

• Also, papers are submitted in confidence and are not in the public domain.– You are liable if research is released.

• Papers you are reviewing should not be shown to colleagues, except as part of the review process.


Ethics Checklist• Is all text yours?• Are you the copyright holder for all figures and illustrations?• Have any authors been listed without their knowledge?• Have other potential authors been omitted? Do they know

the publication is proceeding without them?• Is any of the material confidential?• Was clearance obtained for any human studies?• Is the scope of citation and attribution clear? Is there a clear

distinction between new work and previous knowledge?• Has other work with similar results been appropriately cited

and discussed?


Ethics Checklist• If any material is shared with another paper, has the sharing

been explained to the reader? Has it been explained to the editor?

• Does the paper include material recycled from your earlier work?

• Are other papers accurately described?• Do you know which version of the code was used to run the

experiments? Could you run the experiments again and get the same outcome?

• Are there any weaknesses or limitations in the experiments that need to be described? Would you be prepared to show other researchers the raw experimental materials?

• Are any claims overstated?

source: g. stylianou - writing for computer science, justin zobel ethics

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