These ready-to-use classroom exercises will help students build a strong foundation in research ethics through real-world challenges and guided reflection.
From the classroom, to the library, to the lab, helping students form a strong foundation in research ethics is an essential part of their scientific education. A comprehensive understanding of ethics is best achieved through study of real-world examples as well as through thoughtful engagement with ethical questions.
Here, you will find a succinct and informative entry point to introduce your students to the vast discussion of ethics so they may begin applying these concepts in both broad and more nuanced ways as they expand their research experience.
This research ethics foundation is designed to promote:
- Protecting the integrity of science
- Respecting the work of others
- Building one’s own credibility as a scholar
As students explore the bigger picture of research ethics, they will reflect on their responsibilities as current scientific scholars as well as future contributors to the scientific community.
Please Note: All student prompts outlined in the “Challenge” sections below are also made available for easy distribution via our downloadable Student Worksheet.
Jump to Section:
Challenge 1: Literature Research
Challenge 2: Case Study
Challenge 3: Taking It Further—Understanding Copyright
Suggested Reading
Challenge 1: Literature Research
For Educators: In this first exercise, students practice accessing trusted information sources and gleaning key learnings from them, helping them build research literacy and draw meaningful conclusions from credible sources.
They will engage with a series of questions designed to help them ascertain what they’ve learned from the material. In assessing grading for this exercise, accountability for clear answers tied to properly cited sources should be a primary determining factor.
Student Prompt: Read the suggested articles from the ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication (section 1.2 in the Table of Contents). For each of the following questions, provide an answer and cite the source of your information using ACS Style.
- What are three examples of unethical behavior in scientific research that were discussed in the reading?
- Name one specific action you can take to avoid plagiarism when writing your own papers.
- Why is it wrong to leave out or hide data, even if your final conclusion is accurate?
- What problems can happen when someone is listed as an author who didn’t contribute to the research?
- What’s the difference between a correction and a retraction in a scientific journal article?
Challenge 2: Case Study
For Educators: In the second exercise, students learn to look for real-world case studies from reputable sources. They then go deeper into their findings, summarizing them by answering several targeted questions that deepen their understanding of the conflict and encourage reflection on its consequences.
Student Prompt: Find a real-world example of an ethical issue or conflict in scientific research. Use a reputable source such as:
- News articles or press releases from established outlets
- Editorials from scholarly journals
- Case studies published by academic institutions
- Articles from well-known science or research blogs
In your own words, write a short summary (150 - 200 words) that includes:
- What happened? Briefly describe the situation.
- What ethical issue or issues were involved? Explain the main concern (e.g., plagiarism, data manipulation, authorship disputes).
- What were the consequences? Describe the impact on the researchers, the institution, and/or the public.
Be sure to cite your source using ACS Style, including a full reference and an in-text citation if applicable.
Challenge 3: Taking It Further—Understanding Copyright
For Educators: Finally, the third exercise in this series invites students to take a closer look at copyright, taking the concept beyond plagiarism to explore what it means to truly respect the work of others and their intellectual property.
Student Prompt: Copyright law plays an important role in research ethics, and it’s something every student and scientist needs to understand in order to use and share content responsibly. Beyond avoiding plagiarism, this also means respecting the intellectual property of others.
Read the ACS ebook chapter “Misconceptions about Copyright and Permissions,” or explore a reputable resource such as the U.S. Copyright Office website or your university library’s copyright or fair use guide.
Write a short reflection (200 - 400 words) that includes:
- What you learned – Summarize the key points about copyright and/or fair use.
- Why it matters – Explain how this connects to ethical research and your responsibilities as a student.
- Your takeaways – Share one or two things you’ll keep in mind when using or sharing content in your academic work.
Be sure to cite your source using ACS Style.
Suggested Reading
This reading list is designed to provide a solid foundation to help answer the challenges outlined above, but we encourage you to search and explore beyond these suggestions.
The Need for Ethics in Scholarly Communication
ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication, Section 1.2.1
A Brief Overview of the Publication Process
ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication, Section 1.2.2
Ethical Responsibilities of Authors
ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication, Section 1.2.3
Ethical Responsibilities after Publication
ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication, Section 1.2.6
Additional Resources
ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication, Section 1.2.7
Just For Fun: When Are Scientists Allowed to Be Funny?
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