The Professional and Social Responsibilities of Scientists

The ethical responsibilities of behavioral scientists can be divided into two broad categories. The fi rst category, discussed in the previous chapter, is our responsibility for the welfare of research participants. The second category, which is the topic of this chapter, is our responsibility to science as an institution and to society as a whole. This discussion of the professional and social responsibilities of scientists focuses on three issues: conducting valid research, the proper use of research results, and research and the common good.