Question

1. Beverly really wants to go to graduate school in psychology and has the grades to get in, but she knows that she needs to have some research experience. She therefore begins working with Dr. Miserendino on a project in which she is observing white rats and measuring the amount of time it takes them to learn to navigate through a maze, depending on whether the animal has been given a drug or a placebo. Beverly is supposed to collect data every day for six days in a row (Monday through Saturday) to see what happens as the drug gradually wears off. She collects the data Monday through Friday, but on Saturday she isn’t able to go to the campus, because of a family emergency. She knows from talking to Dr. Miserendino about the study that it is too expensive to repeat the study, because both the rats themselves and the drugs are very costly. She also knows that if she tells Dr. Miserendino that she missed a day of data collection, Dr. Miserendino will be really upset. She considers making up the data just for Saturday, based on the data she had collected for the rest of the week. She knows that Dr. Miserendino would never have to find out what happened.
   Reflection Questions:
   Assuming that Dr. Miserendino never does find out about the made-up data, what are some possible negative ethical consequences of Beverly’s decision to falsify the data?
   1. Why is it risky for Beverly to make up the data?
   2. What would you choose to do if you were in Beverly’s place? Explain.

Answer 1

Ans.(a):- It is risky for Beverly to make up the data as Beverly falsifies the data and thus corrupted the study. Beverly's data is fully null in void. Even though she is just shy of one day, there could be astronomical changes. By lying to Dr. Miserendino, she is voluntarily taking away Dr. Miserendino’s ability to trust her and her work. She is actually putting her chances of attending her graduate program on risk as well.

Ans. (b):- If I was in Beverly’s place, I would feel obligated to tell clearly to Dr. Miserendino. I would also request a meeting with Dr. Miserendino to try to figure out a way to fund the project or create a fundraiser to collect enough financial help to begin the trial again. I would also simply sit down with Dr. Miserendino and discuss with him if five days-worth of data was actually enough.