HSCI705 Discussion Research Data, Reports and Deception

Research data, reports, and deception

To retain access to her dissertation research data and the biological samples that have been critical to her work, Valerie should try to negotiate with the current lab director a plan that would allow her to transfer her dissertation research data and the biological samples in a way that will preserve their integrity (Singer, 2021). Valerie should argue that because the samples were produced from publicly funded research, they are government property and, therefore, should remain at the university. One option would be for Valerie and her original lab director to write a formal agreement stipulating that she has ownership over these samples and how she will use them, including any future publication or patent rights. Of course, she must ensure that any restrictions placed on them are legally allowable.

Another option to ethically retain access to her research data is for Valerie to ask her original lab director if he would be willing to release the data under a license agreement. This kind of license — called an Open-Source Software (OSS) or Open-Access License — has terms that restrict how data can be used but allows redistribution (a vital issue for Valerie, who wants to continue using her data). By putting these restrictions in a license agreement, the lab director would make the data freely available by allowing anyone to use it, but only if they comply with the license’s terms.

Valerie should respond to her current lab director’s refusal to take her data and lab notebooks by stating that she will not be able to comply with the lab director’s request since she needs her data and lab notebooks to continue her work (Moore, 2022). This will force the lab director to provide an alternative for her plans for research at the new lab or give Valerie access to her dissertation research data and biological samples.

References

Moore, G. E. (2022). Ethics (Vol. 52). H. Holt.

Singer, P. (2021). Practical ethics. Cambridge university press.