Code of Ethics for the Research Consortium

Preamble

The AAHPERD Research Consortium members are committed to the advancement of knowledge through research. They strive for fundamental truths and do so with regard for human rights, the dignity and worth of individuals and acceptance of all responsibilities associated with the freedom of open inquiry. They search for truth with integrity, intelligence, competence, objectivity, and diligence while being sensitive to and having concern for the needs and interests of profession, colleagues and other investigators, students, research participants, and society.

Code of Ethics

I. Research Consortium members seek to maintain the highest standards of their profession. They accept as a primary responsibility to seek and communicate truth. They strive to exercise critical self-discipline and judgment in selecting, extending and transmitting knowledge. They strive for and continually practice intellectual honesty. They continually develop and improve their scholarly competence. They accept responsibility for:

A. Selecting research topics and the techniques used in investigating, analyzing, and reporting.

B. Minimizing the possibility that their research will be misleading.

C. Providing full discussion of the limitations of their data and never suppressing disconfirming data.

D. Attempting to prevent distortion, misuse, or suppression of findings by institutions or agencies.

E. Taking credit only for work they have done.

F. Submitting a manuscript to only one periodical at a time.

G. Appearing and presenting reports at professional meetings when selected to do so.

H. Presenting their competence, education, training and experience accurately; continuing their education; being open to new procedures; seeking better techniques for implementing their research; and providing information and services only for which they are competent by training and experience.

I. Preserving the integrity of the profession by taking action, through appropriate channels, against unethical conduct by others.

J. Knowing and attending to the guidelines and obligations of the organization(s) in which they are engaged.

II. Research Consortium members respect the rights of colleagues. They respect and defend free inquiry for all. They respect the rights of colleagues and others regardless of age, sex, national origin, sexual and religious preference, marital and socioeconomic status. They uphold these ideals by reporting any infringement. They accept responsibility for:

A. Respecting and defending the right of associates to free inquiry.

B. Exchanging ideas and criticism while respecting the opinions of others.

C. Being objective in evaluating the works, ideas, and opinions of colleagues regardless of age, sex, national origin, sexual and religious preference, marital and socio-economic status, and other non-professional attributes.

D. Acknowledging assistance and ideas of colleagues and giving credit for the works of others.

E. Sharing in the governance of the institution in which they carry on research.

III. Research Consortium members accept responsibility to their students. They act as intellectual guides and counselors and encourage the free pursuit of knowledge. They foster individual rights and encourage mutual respect. They require from their students academic conduct and make every reasonable effort to see that evaluation of students reflects true merit. They respect the confidential nature of the relationship between professor and student. They avoid exploitation of students for professional advantage and give credit for significant assistance. They accept responsibility for:

A. Recognizing that a primary obligation is to help students acquire knowledge and skill.

B. Maintaining high standards of scholarship by presenting information objectively, fully and accurately.

C. Maintaining high ethical standards of research that are clearly communicated to students.

D. Avoiding any action that will violate the legal and civil rights of students.

E. Respecting confidential information about, or given by, students.

F. Evaluating students on a true merit.

G. Avoiding personal exploitation of students or exploitation for professional gain.

H. Giving credit for valuable assistance by students or assuming secondary roles when the primary work is that of the student.

IV. Research Consortium members respect the rights of research participants. They obtain informed consent from all participants. In working with persons who are unable to give voluntary and informed consent, they take care to protect the best interests of the participants. They treat information obtained from participants in a confidential manner. They treat human subjects and animals humanely. They accept responsibility for:

A. Obtaining voluntary informed consent from participants.

B. Respecting the privacy of the participant.

C. Planning for storage and disposal of records such that the confidential nature of the data is kept.

D. Treating human participants and animals humanely.

V. Research Consortium members have the same rights, privileges, and obligations as other citizens. They are sensitive to prevailing standards in the community. They are aware of the possible impact their behavior may have on their credibility as professionals. As private persons, they avoid speaking as though they speak or act for their institution. They attempt, through moral action, to change social standards with which they disagree. They accept responsibility for:

A. Working harmoniously in the best interest of others in the community in which they live.

B. Behaving in such a way that the image as a professional, or that of other professionals, is not discredited.

C. Refraining from speaking as a representative of their institution when speaking as a private citizen.

D. Attempting to change undesirable mores, rules and regulations by moral and ethical means.