of Ethics Online Collection: 2002
Ethics and Values
87.1 STATEMENT ON INTEGRITY IN PHYSICS (Adopted by Council - 24 April l987)
88.1 STATEMENT ON DISPLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE OF GRAPHIC MATERIAL DEPICTING DEMEANING IMAGES OF WOMEN (Adopted by Council - l7 April l988)
91.8 GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT (Adopted by Council - 3 November 1991
92.6 EXECUTIVE BOARD RESOLUTION REGARDING PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING ALLEGATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT (Adopted by the Executive Board, 13 November 1992)
94.3 STATEMENT OF POLICY ON EQUAL PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITY (Adopted by APS Council, 23 April 1994)
STATEMENT ON INTEGRITY IN PHYSICS
(Adopted by Council - 24 April l987)
The physics community has traditionally enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for maintenance of high ethical standards and integrity in its professional activities. Indeed, the American Physical Society is one of the few professional societies which has not felt the need for a formal code of ethics. Understandably, physicists have a tendency to take this situation for granted. However, the matter warrants an active awareness on the part of all physicists, for this is a precious asset which deserves continuing support and protection.* It is coupled not only to the reputations of individual physicists and their organizations, but also to the image and credibility of the physics profession as perceived by scientific colleagues, government officials and the American public as a whole.
What are some of the types of misconduct which violate professional integrity? Known instances cover a spectrum ranging from the rather subtle to those that are quite flagrant. Examples include (l) plagiarism, such as the unauthorized use of original material contained in a proposal under peer review, or the unacknowledged use of previously published material; (2) fabrication of data or selective reporting of results; (3) submission of the same paper or trivial variations thereof to more than one publication channel; (4) automatic co-authorship when the individual in question has not made a substantive contribution to the particular work; (5) a reviewer's lack of impartiality; (6) slow response on the part of a referee in order to delay processing of a proposal or a manuscript submitted for publication.
That instances of professional misconduct on the part of physicists are few is a source of satisfaction to all of us. But there is an important operational implication: the high standards of professional integrity in the physics community constitute an honorable tradition that deserves to be carefully maintained and transmitted with enthusiasm to younger colleagues and, ultimately, to future generations. The welfare of the profession depends on it.
* Examples of concerns recently expressed are the remarks of Dr. Frank Press, President of the National Academy of Sciences, in Physics Today, April l987; and the booklet published by Sigma Xi entitled "Honor in Science," (second edition, l986).
STATEMENT ON DISPLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE OF GRAPHIC MATERIAL
DEPICTING DEMEANING IMAGES OF WOMEN
(Adopted by Council - l7 April l988)
The Council of The American Physical Society has long been concerned with the serious under-representation of women and minorities in the profession of physics and, over the years, has established a number of programs that attempt to counter this trend. The Council now urges each member of the Society to help in this effort by being sensitive to all matters that affect the atmosphere of the physics workplace.
In particular, actions that create a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment for any group undermine the affirmative action efforts of the Society and should be eliminated. These actions include the public posting of materials that are insulting, derogatory, or exclusionary to a particular group.
We call upon all members of the Society to help ensure that persons of every race, gender, and ethnic origin may feel a welcome part of the physics community.
GUIDELINES FOR PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
(Adopted by Council - 3 November 1991)
The Constitution of the American Physical Society states that the objective of the Society shall be the advancement and diffusion of the knowledge of physics. It is the purpose of this statement to advance that objective by presenting ethical guidelines for Society members.
Each physicist is a citizen of the community of science. Each shares responsibility for the welfare of this community. Science is best advanced when there is mutual trust, based upon honest behavior, throughout the community. Acts of deception, or any other acts that deliberately compromise the advancement of science, are therefore unacceptable. Honesty must be regarded as the cornerstone of ethics in science.
The following are the minimal standards of ethical behavior relating to several critical aspects of the physics profession.
Research Results
The results of research should be recorded and maintained in a form that allows analysis and review. Research data should be immediately available to scientific collaborators. Following publication, the data should be retained for a reasonable period in order to be available promptly and completely to responsible scientists. Exceptions may be appropriate in certain circumstances in order to preserve privacy. to assure patent protection or for similar reasons.
Fabrication of data or selective reporting of data with the intent to mislead or deceive is an egregious departure from the expected norms of scientific conduct, as is the theft of data or research results from others.
Publication and Authorship Practices
Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the concept, design, execution and interpretation of the research study. All those who have made significant contributions should be offered the opportunity to be listed as authors. Other individuals who have contributed to the study should be acknowledged, but not identified as authors. The sources of financial support for the project should be disclosed.
Plagiarism constitutes unethical scientific behavior and is never acceptable. Proper acknowledgement of the work of others used in a research project must always be given. Further, it is the obligation of each author to provide prompt retractions of corrections of errors in published works.
Peer Review
Peer review provides advice concerning research proposals, the publication of research results and career advancement of colleagues. It is an essential component of the scientific process.
Peer review can serve its intended function only if the members of the scientific community are prepared to provide thorough, fair and objective evaluations based on requisite expertise. Although peer review can be difficult and time-consuming, scientists have an obligation to participate in the process.
Privileged information or ideas that are obtained through peer review must be kept confidential and not used for competitive gain.
Reviewers should disclose conflicts of interest resulting from direct competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with any of the authors, and avoid cases in which such conflicts preclude an objective evaluation.
Conflict of Interest
There are many professional activities of physicists that have the potential for a conflict of interest. Any professional relationship or action that may result in a conflict of interest must be fully disclosed. When objectivity and effectiveness cannot be maintained, the activity should be avoided or discontinued.
It should be recognized that honest error is an integral part of the scientific enterprise. It is not unethical to be wrong, provided that errors are promptly acknowledged and corrected when they are detected. Professional integrity in the formulation, conduct, and reporting of physics activities reflects not only on the reputations of individual physicists and their organizations, but also on the image and credibility of the physics profession as perceived by scientific colleagues, government and the public. It is important that the tradition of ethical behavior be carefully maintained and transmitted with enthusiasm to future generations.
Physicists have an individual and a collective responsibility to ensure that there is no compromise with these guidelines.
EXECUTIVE BOARD RESOLUTION REGARDING PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING
ALLEGATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT
(Adopted by the Executive Board, 13 November 1992)
That under usual circumstances, allegations of professional misconduct that come to the Society be forwarded to the Chair of POPA for further consideration. He or she, in consultation with other members of POPA and with officers of the Society, shall devise a process for response appropriate to each individual case. The Chair's principal role will be advisory; recommending actions must be approved by the officers of the Society.
STATEMENT OF POLICY ON EQUAL PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITY
(Adopted by APS Council, 23 April 1994)
Principles
The APS, to achieve its goal of advancement and diffusion of the knowledge of physics, affirms a policy of equal opportunity for all Society members. This policy requires that the Society and its members conduct their professional activities without discrimination or harassment in regard to personal factors irrelevant to the purposes of the Society including (but not limited to) gender, race, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political views, sexual orientation, or disability. Because respect for individuals is integral to achieving this goal, it is the policy of the APS that harassment of colleagues and co-workers in the professional environment, including sexual or racial harassment, is unacceptable behavior.
The American Physical Society is dedicated to the broadest possible participation of its members in activities of the Society. We therefore reaffirm the Society's long-standing commitment to removing barriers impeding the entry of women and minorities to the career of physics, and to fostering their full-fledged participation in our profession.
Guidelines for Implementation
The major functions of the APS are in the areas of publications; professional meetings; nominations; elected governance and associated committees; awards and honors; and outreach programs. In carrying out these functions, members should adhere to the objectives of enhancing equal opportunity and encouraging broad participation in our profession and in the activities of the APS.
The APS expects all members, both in their participation in activities of the Society and within their professional workplace, to act in accordance with these principles. Society members are also encouraged to foster the enactment at their workplaces of comparable policies.
The elected officers of the Society, in consultation with the governance committees, are responsible for dealing with issues arising from this policy statement. Any person who becomes aware of inappropriate conduct should contact the Executive Officer of the Society.
