Term Paper on "Ethics in Psychology Academic Fraud"

Term Paper 5 pages (1455 words) Sources: 6 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Academic Fraud - Psychology

Ethics in Psychology: Academic Fraud

A Notorious Case of Academic Fraud

This paper discusses the "notorious" case of academic fraud by Sir Cyril Lodowic Burt as presented by Beloff (1980). The research will focus on the ethical problem presented, the ethical principles breached according to the Australian codes of ethics, the motives and justifications of a commitment of this breach, justification for such actions and solutions for dealing with instances of academic fraud such as this one. While a brief discourse on the case of Sir Cyril will be provided, the primary purpose of the case is to address motives and justifications for academic breach, and actions or solutions to such cases that academic institutions can implement to prevent fraud from occurring in the future.

Academic Fraud

Fraud may be defined multiple ways; for purposes of clarification in this paper, fraud is defined as follows: any activities involving perjury, criminal activity, falsification of documentation or data, inclusion or failure to include information directly related to reporting or falsifying of information to provide desired results (Hamilton, 2002, p. 119).

Cyril Burt

Among the most infamous of cases researched and disputed in academic psychology involved the case of Sir Cyril Burt, who was accused of fraud related to major research conducted by Cir Burt, which involved the study of the IQ levels of fifty three identical twins raised apart (Mackintosh, 1995; Beloff, 1980). In his studies, Burt showed a high relationships between the intelligence of twins who were reared separately from each other. However, much scandal arose when following the researcher's death, many accused Burt's major theory as false, due to fabrication of data and falsification of records involving research assistants related to the case and co-authors who "lent to his deception of authenticity" of research (Mackintosh, 1995, p. 1).

Ethical Issues and Disputes

The ethical issue presented in this case is whether Burt did indeed engage in ethical fraud, and if so by what means, and by what means or methods can psychologists adequately define a term as fraud which is fraught with ambiguity. Many of the accusations against Burt were based on a said biography of Burt later discovered; recent investigations however by scholars suggest that the charges against Burt were not valid, opening the door for analysis and further commentary (Mackintosh, 1995, p. 2).

Much of the justification for claimed breech of ethical conduct by Burt stems from Leslie Hearnshaw's published work "Cyril Burt," which the author claims is based on research including that obtained by personal correspondence and diaries from Burt, which also begs the question as to whether controversy arose from legitimate ethical conduct or unethical access to information that should have remained private (Mackintosh, 1995).

A primary source of controversy among psychologists and academics also lay in whether Burt's research might be considered ethical in nature, as much of his work was based on his investigation of genetic studies, and the social implications such studies may have on society and the field of academics (Mackintosh, 1995). Most of the claims against fraud were based on other's inability to locate the women studied and on allegations of missing data, which may or may not be substantiated (Mackintosh, 1995).

Code of Ethical Conduct

The cardinal principles of the Australian Code of Ethics as dictated by the Australian Ethical Society (2003) suggest the following principles must be applied in psychology and in evaluation of academic fraud: (1) professionals have a duty to act using well-informed conscious decision-making, (2) professionals engaged in academic investigation have a duty to act in the interests of the community they serve, (3) professionals and academics have a duty to accept responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of their community before the welfare of their private or personal interests and (4) professionals have an obligation to act with honesty and in good faith to the community, and apply their skill and knowledge in the interests of the community.

Using these principles and tenets, one may conclude that Burt's actions were justified, whether or not he conducted ethical fraud, based on the principle that Cyril Burt acted in good faith when presenting his studies and empirical data to the public at large. As evidence suggesting fraud occurred is questionable and as yet highly debated and unproven, there is not sufficient evidence to confirm that Burt acted in a… READ MORE

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