Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude - 2 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Ethical Aspects of Data Manipulation in Research

Context

Recently, accusations of fraudulent practices within the behavioral sciences have surfaced, with independent investigators uncovering data manipulation by Francesca Gino, a Harvard Business School professor. Gino has been found guilty of research misconduct, particularly in studies focusing on honesty and unethical behavior.

• Another instance involves Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu, where approximately 200 academic papers, authored by researchers affiliated with the university, have been identified for containing plagiarized content, manipulated images, and altered data. Notably, the university's vice-chancellor was among the authors implicated in these questionable practices.

Why do Researchers Commit Misconduct?

• Root Causes of Research Misconduct: Researchers have strong motivations to produce groundbreaking findings and results supporting alternative hypotheses, largely due to incentives. However, these substantial incentives have, in some cases, led to shoddy and even fabricated work.
  • Scientific misconduct has a long history, from the infamous Piltdown Man hoax in 1912 ( a fraudulent attempt to fill in the missing link between primate and man) to more recent cases like Diederik Stapel. It persists in various forms in different fields, even today.
• Motivators and Contributing Factors to Misconduct: The low risk of detection by reviewers and the mentoring styles of research supervisors can play a role in misconduct. The lack of comprehensive policies at the national and institutional levels to penalize misconduct are also cited as contributors to the problem.
• Systematic Causes of Misconduct:
  • Funding and Pressure Relief: One approach is to ensure adequate funding and reduce the pressure on researchers. This could involve allocating a portion of research grants for quality-control activities, allowing investigators to conduct more comprehensive and efficient investigations.
  • Support for Replication Studies: Supporting replication studies, which verify the results of other studies, is another valuable method. Financial aid for replication studies, in the form of cash rewards, can incentivize researchers to conduct such studies.

What are the Ethical Effects of Misconduct?

• Long-Term Consequences:
  • Impact of Scientific Misconduct:
    • Scientific misconduct, regardless of its scale, can lead to enduring consequences, particularly when influential figures in a field are implicated.
    • Notably, leaders like Dr. Gino, whose work forms the basis for others, can potentially undermine years of research when their misconduct is exposed.
• Widespread Implications of Misconduct:
  • Extensive Reach:
    • The repercussions of scientific misconduct extend beyond isolated cases, casting a shadow over numerous papers and findings that relied on compromised work.
    • This jeopardizes the integrity of extensive scientific inquiry conducted over the years.
• Lack of Transparency in Scientific Publishing:
  • Publishing's Role in Perpetuating Misconduct:
    • Scientific publishing, beyond its fundamental role in research and academia, significantly contributes to perpetuating research misconduct.
    • Often, signs of misconduct in published papers lack adequate investigation or correction, posing a threat to the credibility of the scientific literature.
  • Recent Events Highlighting Issues:
    • Recent incidents, such as Nature retracting a paper due to data discrepancies, underscore the deficiencies in transparency within the publication process.
    • These events emphasize the need for enhanced transparency and scrutiny to maintain the credibility of scientific research and its dissemination.

How Should Misconduct be Dealt With?

• Addressing Scientific Misconduct with the OSF: One innovative approach to tackling scientific misconduct is the Open Science Framework (OSF). This framework aims to uphold scientific integrity by advocating for practices like pre-registration, which involves establishing a study's hypotheses, methods, and analyses before conducting it.
  • The OSF is a free, open platform to support research and enable collaboration established by the Center for Open Science (COS), a non-profit organization.
• Ambitious 'SCORE' Project: Furthermore, the OSF team has launched the 'Systematizing Confidence in Open Research and Evidence' (SCORE) project, which aspires to enhance research credibility through automated tools that generate rapid and accurate confidence scores for research claims.
• Involve More Stakeholders: Dealing with fraud in the scientific community involves various methods. However, these methods can be inconsistent across institutions. This results in researchers who are willing to cooperate still facing unofficial forms of punishment, which should be addressed by involving different stakeholders.

Way Forward

• In response to the absence of institutional efforts, some scientists have taken it upon themselves to scrutinize collaborative work, distinguishing between credible and flawed research to avoid tarnishing all their work.
  • However, a broader reevaluation is necessary, particularly among influential figures in science. The idealized notion that science is inherently rigorous and self-correcting needs to be revised, recognizing its complexity and the need for enhanced methods and norms.
• This requires incorporating technology and incentives to promote continuous self-assessment and improvement, making it a standard practice rather than a response to 'special' circumstances.

Knowledge without Character

Context

Mahatma Gandhi formulated a set of principles known as the "Seven Social Sins" or the "Seven Blunders of the World." These concepts, according to Gandhi, have the potential to impede human progress and happiness.

Body

• Wealth without work: This sin refers to the accumulation of wealth without contributing to society through work. In today’s society, this can be seen in cases of corruption and fraud, where individuals or corporations amass wealth through illegal or unethical means.
  • For example, the 2018 Punjab National Bank scam, where fraudulent letters of credit were issued to companies without any underlying transactions, resulting in a loss of over 1.8 billion US dollars.
• Pleasure without conscience: This sin refers to the pursuit of pleasure without any consideration for the impact it may have on others or the environment. This can be seen in cases of overconsumption, where individuals or societies consume resources beyond what is sustainable or necessary.
  • For example, the impact of fast fashion on the environment and the exploitation of workers in the garment industry.
• Knowledge without character: This sin refers to the pursuit of knowledge without any moral or ethical grounding. This can be seen in cases of academic fraud, where individuals plagiarize or fabricate data to further their careers or gain recognition.
  • For example, the 2011 Harvard University cheating scandal, where over 100 students were implicated in a cheating scandal involving a take-home exam.
• Commerce without morality: This sin refers to the pursuit of profit without any consideration for moral or ethical principles. This can be seen in cases of exploitative labor practices, where companies prioritize profit over fair wages and safe working conditions for their employees.
  • For example, the Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh in 2013, where over 1,100 garment workers were killed due to poor working conditions in a building that housed several clothing factories.
• Science without humanity: This sin refers to the pursuit of scientific knowledge without any consideration for its impact on human well-being or the environment. This can be seen in cases of unethical experimentation, where scientific research is conducted without regard for the safety or dignity of human subjects.
  • For example, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, where African American men were used as subjects in a study on the natural progression of untreated syphilis, without informed consent or proper medical treatment.
• Religion without sacrifice: This sin refers to the pursuit of religious beliefs without any corresponding sacrifice or commitment to helping others. This can be seen in cases of religious extremism, where individuals or groups use their religious beliefs to justify acts of violence or discrimination against others.
  • For example, the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, where over 250 people were killed and hundreds more injured in a series of coordinated suicide bombings targeting churches and hotels.
• Politics without principle: This sin refers to the pursuit of political power without any regard for moral or ethical principles. This can be seen in cases of political corruption, where politicians use their power for personal gain or to further their own interests, rather than serving the needs of their constituents.
  • For example, the Watergate scandal in the United States in the 1970s, where President Nixon and his administration were implicated in a series of illegal activities, including wiretapping and burglary, in an attempt to sabotage their political opponents.

Conclusion
Through acknowledging and steering clear of these seven sins, we can aspire to create a world characterized by fairness and equality, placing importance on ethical governance and the dignity of humanity.

Ethics of War

Context

• War Outbreak Impact: Since the initiation of conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas dispute, discussions about the significance of proportionality have gained prominence.
• Proportionality as a Myth in War:
  • Bloodshed in Israel-Hamas Conflict:
    • The extensive loss of life in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has elicited strong emotional reactions globally.
    • Critics argue that Israel's use of military force against Hamas in Gaza is considered by some, including the Prime Minister of Norway, as "beyond proportionality."

International humanitarian law (IHL) and Principle of proportionality

• Restriction on using force: It places restrictions on the use of force, especially against civilians.
• Principle of Jus in Bello: IHL applicable to armed conflicts ( jus in bello ), it uses the principle of proportionality to limit the damages caused by military operations on civilian populations and objects. 
  • Once a State has resorted to the use of armed force, jus in bello kicks in to regulate and restrain the use of force in times of armed conflict.
  • It obliges to balance the military advantages sought and the damage and civilian losses related to it. 
• Differentiating civilian objects and military objectives: IHL provides that parties to the conflict must distinguish between civilian objects and military objectives by using specific methods of warfare.

Why is proportionality a myth during the war?

• Voluntary Nature of IHL:
  • IHL Voluntariness:
    • International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is voluntary and lacks binding force on sovereign states.
    • Adherence to and compliance with international law are contingent on "good faith," as there is no enforcing entity.
• Myth of War without Public Mobilization:
  • Public Support Misconception:
    • The notion that wars can occur without public backing is a fallacy.
    • Wars fundamentally involve clashes of nationalisms or collective human wills, necessitating the mobilization of populations.
• Roots of Actions in Civilian Support:
  • Both Israel's response and Hamas' actions are deeply rooted in civilian support.
• Constraints in Warfare:
  • Influencing Factors:
    • Constraints in warfare are influenced by several factors, including:
    • Relative capabilities of adversaries.
    • Level of enemy strength.
    • Tactics and operational strategies employed.
    • Terrain of combat.
    • Objectives pursued by the belligerents.
    • Relative positions of adversaries, allies, and partners.

Ethics in Sports

Context

A steeplechaser and a sprinter participating in the Delhi Athletics Championship evaded drug testers, underscoring the pervasive issue of doping in Indian athletics.

Doping Shadows- A Call for Anti-Doping Reform In Sports

• The rot runs so deep that syringes lying in the washrooms (viral Images and videos) during even school and university events are a common sight in the country.
• At the core of this corruption is the encouragement of coaches and parents for quick fixes, and the lethargy of India’s anti-doping machinery.
• The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has been ineffective in preventing doping, with competitions in remote corners of India taking place without anti-doping officials present.

What are the ethics in Sports?

• World Anti-Doping Code and Intrinsic Value:
  • Intrinsic Value of Sports:
    • The World Anti-Doping Code emphasizes that sports have an inherent value, celebrating the human spirit, body, and mind.
    • This value extends beyond merely winning or achieving first place in sports competitions.
  • Spirit of Sports:
    • The essence of sports encompasses ethics, fair play, and honesty.
    • Anti-doping practices are grounded in these ethical principles and receive global support.
• Values Taught by Sports:
  • Teaching Fairness and Team Building:  Sports can impart values such as fairness, team building, equality, discipline, inclusion, perseverance, and respect.
  • Universal Framework for Learning Values:
    • Sport holds the power to provide a universal framework for learning values.
    • This contribution aids in the development of soft skills crucial for responsible citizenship.

WADA report on anti-doping violations

• India is already one of the top-tier anti-doping violators in the world. 
• A World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report published in December 2022 revealed that India, with 59 instances, comes behind the perennial chart-topper, Russia, which has 135 cases in 2020.

What are the reasons for moral misconduct?

• Attraction of Sports: Young people are attracted to sport for a variety of reasons including quests for excitement, participation, health, competition, acknowledgment, prestige, and profit.
  • What differentiates elite athletes from their non-elite counterparts is their ability/talent, and their desire to compare and contest this against other elites.
• Pressure for performance enhancement: Depending on the sport practiced and the physical attributes it requires, the athletes will look for one or more of the following benefits of doping: recovering from an injury, increasing body recovery capacity after training, increasing muscle mass and strength, decreasing fat tissue, and increasing endurance.
• Excessive Wealth and Fame: Today sports mean sponsors, advertising contracts and money and for that some believe that any risk is worth taking. 
  • sports are no longer just sports; as sports become an industry, a business, and a reason for political or national pride, these facts can only lead to breaking any rules to win. 
• Advancement in Technology:
  • Although anti-doping controls are becoming more rigorous, doping and, very importantly, masking doping methods are also advancing, and these are usually one step ahead of doping detection techniques.

Implication

As sports significantly contribute to physical and mental education while fostering international understanding and cooperation, the extensive utilization of doping products and methods carries implications not only for the athletes' health but also for the overall reputation of the sport.

Way forward

• Clean Sports Concept:
  • Revised Perspective on Doping:
    • Shifting from the outdated notion of clean sport solely as a drug-free sport.
    • Reconceptualizing doping as a sports integrity issue.
• Behavioral Approaches:
  • Holistic Integrity Approach:
    • Integrating values-based education, awareness, and anti-doping education into a broader framework of integrity.
    • Supporting informed decision-making and personal agency.
• Life Skills Development:
  • Emphasizing the cultivation of life skills to manage stress and pressure without resorting to unethical means.
  • Establishing and maintaining correct attitudes and behaviors.
• Anti-doping Strategy in Sports:
  • Testing Protocols:
    • Advocating for the retention of athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) by organizations like the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
    • Prioritizing regular testing, particularly out of competition rather than during competition.
• Strict Legislation and Regulation:
  • Enhanced Legal Measures: Advocating for stricter legislation involving authorities to prevent the proliferation, marketing, and usage of prohibited substances.

Conclusion
“If excellence is achieved in the form of execution and performance, winning will frequently follow.” 

Rising Scientific Misconduct in India

Context

A survey conducted by India Research Watchdog indicates a growing number of retractions in Indian research, giving rise to significant apprehensions regarding scientific misconduct in the country.

What is Scientific Misconduct?

• About:
  • Scientific misconduct can be described as a deviation from the accepted standards of scientific research, study and publication ethics.
  • There can be many forms of scientific misconduct such as Plagiarism, Misconduct involving experimental techniques, and Fraud.
  • Retractions occur when published papers are withdrawn from the scientific literature due to various reasons, including mistakes, data fabrication, plagiarism, and other forms of misconduct.
• Examples:
  • When the results of a scientific investigation are reported without giving credit to the principal investigators whose work has been involved.
  • Scientific fraud, where authors create an article with fabricated images or data, which is then submitted to a peer-reviewed publication without approval from an independent oversight board.

What are the Statistics of Scientific Misconduct in India?

• Increases Scientific Retractions: Retractions from India have increased 2.5-times between 2020 and 2022 over the number recorded between 2017 and 2019.
  • The primary reason for retractions is identified as misconduct, where authors knowingly engage in unethical practices.
• Quality Decline Indicators: The ratio of research output to retractions is used as a proxy for quality, revealing an alarming drop in India, almost halving the ratio. This indicates a potential decline in the overall quality of research.
• Domains of Retractions:
  • Engineering sees a significant increase, accounting for almost 48% of all retractions, up from 36% in the period 2017-2019.
  • Additionally, the humanities experience an extraordinary growth of 567% in retractions.
• Reasons for Rise in Scientific Misconduct:
  • A little more than half of the respondents believe that university ranking parameters are behind the rise.
  • Another 35% attributed it to unethical researchers, while 10% pointed to the minimal action taken when an allegation is reported or when an offender is ‘caught’.
  • Additional factors contributing to the rise in retractions include the compulsory publication requirement for PhD students instituted in 2017, potentially leading to low-quality publications, and the proliferation of predatory journals.
• Urgent Call to Action:
  • The data is presented as an urgent call to action, emphasizing the need to scrutinize research malpractice in Indian academia.
  • The potential consequences on both research and teaching are highlighted, urging immediate intervention to prevent the production of substandard or bogus research.

What are the Ethical Implications of Scientific Misconduct?

• Long-Term Consequences:
  • Impact of Scientific Misconduct: Scientific misconduct, irrespective of its magnitude, can result in widespread and enduring consequences, particularly when influential figures are implicated.
• Breach of Academic Integrity:
  • Serious Violation of Integrity:
    • Scientific misconduct, encompassing acts like plagiarism, data fabrication, and manipulation, represents a severe breach of academic and scientific integrity.
    • It undermines the fundamental principles of honest and transparent scholarly inquiry.
• Impact on Trust and Credibility:
  • Erosion of Trustworthiness:
    • Unethical practices contribute to the erosion of the trustworthiness of scientific findings, diminishing the credibility of research.
    • This not only impacts the individual researchers' reputations but also tarnishes the overall image of the scientific community.
• Compromised Quality and Academic Rigor:
  • Drop in Research Output to Retractions Ratio:
    • The significant decline in the ratio of research output to retractions indicates a compromised quality.
    • This compromise jeopardizes academic rigor, impeding the progress and advancement of knowledge.

Way Forward

• In response to the absence of institutional efforts, some scientists have taken it upon themselves to scrutinize collaborative work, distinguishing between credible and flawed research to avoid tarnishing all their work.
  • However, a broader reevaluation is necessary, particularly among influential figures in science. The idealized notion that science is inherently rigorous and self-correcting needs to be revised, recognizing its complexity and the need for enhanced methods and norms.
• This requires incorporating technology and incentives to promote continuous self-assessment and improvement, making it a standard practice rather than a response to 'special' circumstances.

Ethical Perspectives on Online Gaming

Context

The recent suspension of a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) in Pune, Maharashtra, brings attention to intricate ethical issues associated with online gaming and the duties of a law enforcement officer.

What are the Ethical Implications Surrounding the Officer's Participation in Online Gaming?

• Arguments In Favor of Officer's Involvement in Online Gaming
  • Personal Freedom and Individual Rights: The officer, like any other citizen, has the right to engage in legal recreational activities during personal time.
    • The officer's use of personal funds for legal recreational activities, including online gaming, falls under their discretionary spending and financial autonomy.
  • Adherence to Legal Norms: If the online gaming activity is legally permissible and the officer complies with the law, their engagement is within the framework of legal norms and should be respected as part of individual autonomy.
  • Mitigation of Stress: Online gaming, like any leisure activity, might serve as a stress-relieving tool, providing a mental escape and relaxation from the pressures of the job.
• Ethics Issues Involved:
  • Violation of Organizational Standards:
    • Breach of Code of Conduct: Engaging in online gaming without permission from the unit commander breaches the established code of conduct within the Maharashtra State Police, indicating a disregard for institutional regulations.
    • Conflict with Professional Norms: Ethically, the officer's participation in online gaming during duty hours conflicts with the expected professionalism and ethical standards required within law enforcement.
  • Negative Public Image and Trust Implications:
    • Public Perception and Trust Erosion: Media interviews discussing personal victories in uniform undermine public confidence in the officer's professional integrity and the broader image of law enforcement, potentially eroding trust in the police force.
    • Impact on Organizational Credibility: Ethically, such conduct damages the credibility and reputation of the entire police force, as the officer's actions are reflective of the institution, impacting its overall image and public trust.
  • Role Model Expectations and Ethical Responsibilities:
    • Role as a Public Figure: Ethically, as a law enforcement official, the officer is a public figure and is expected to serve as a role model, setting an example of ethical behavior and responsible conduct.

Way Forward

• Regarding Conduct of Professionals:
  • Clear Organizational Policies: Establish clear and unambiguous guidelines within law enforcement agencies regarding off-duty conduct, specifying permissible and non-permissible activities, especially related to online gaming.
  • Ethical Training and Education: Provide ethical training and education to law enforcement officials, emphasizing the importance of upholding ethical conduct both on and off duty, ensuring they understand the impact of their actions on public perception.
  • Strengthened Codes of Conduct: Review and strengthen existing codes of conduct to address modern-day challenges, including guidelines for engaging in recreational activities, maintaining professional image, and the use of social media in uniform.
  • Support and Counseling Services: Provide support services and counseling for officers, addressing stress and promoting healthy coping mechanisms to mitigate stress, considering the challenging nature of their profession.
• Regarding Online Gaming:
  • Clear Legal Definitions: Establishing clear distinctions between skill-based gaming and gambling, ensuring precise legal definitions to guide regulatory measures uniformly across states.
  • Collaborative Governance and Oversight: Collaborate with gaming companies to promote responsible gaming practices, emphasizing user protection, addiction prevention, and measures to mitigate financial risks among users.
  • Comprehensive Research and Analysis: Invest in extensive research on the psychological and socio-economic impacts of online gaming, facilitating evidence-based policymaking and the development of effective regulatory measures.