Accountable Science Script

Warm-Up: Truth or Tale (10 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, class! Today, we're going to dive into a crucial aspect of science: trust and responsibility. To kick us off, I'm going to present a few common everyday claims or misconceptions. For example, have you ever heard that 'sugar makes kids hyper' or 'you need to drink 8 glasses of water a day'? (Display or verbally present 2-3 common everyday claims on the board/screen, referencing Slide 1 of the Accountable Science Slide Deck). I want you to pair up with your neighbor and discuss for 5-7 minutes: 'How do you decide if something you hear or read is true? What makes you trust or distrust information, especially about health or science?' Consider how you evaluate these everyday claims. Share your initial thoughts."

(Allow 5-7 minutes for students to discuss in pairs.)

"Alright, let's bring it back together! (Signal for attention.) Who would like to share what makes them trust a piece of information, or what makes them question it?"

(Listen for student responses, validate their ideas, and gently guide towards the concepts of evidence, sources, and reliability.)

"Excellent points! You've already started thinking about what makes information reliable, whether it's an everyday claim or a scientific finding. Today, we're going to formalize that thinking and explore why accountability and ethics are the bedrock of all good scientific research."

Introduce Lesson Frame & Vocabulary (10 minutes)

"(Transition to Slide 2 of the Accountable Science Slide Deck). Take a look at the screen. Our objective for today is: Students will be able to identify accountable practices in scientific research and explain the importance of ethical responsibility in collecting and presenting data.

This means we'll be learning how scientists ensure their work is honest, fair, and reliable, and why that's so incredibly important for society. Why do you think trust is so crucial in science? What happens if people don't trust what scientists say? Turn and talk to your partner for 30 seconds."

(Allow 30 seconds for partner discussion. Listen for student responses, guiding them towards ideas of public health, policy decisions, and the advancement of knowledge.)

"Fantastic insights! Now, let's define some key terms that will help us navigate today's discussion and your future scientific endeavors. (Point to the vocabulary on Slide 2.)

• Accountability: The obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and disclose the results in a transparent manner.
• Ethics: Moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior; a branch of knowledge that deals with moral principles.
• Data Integrity: The accuracy, completeness, consistency, and trustworthiness of data over its entire lifecycle.
• Plagiarism: Presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own, with or without their consent, by incorporating it into your work without full acknowledgement.
• Bias: A prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

"These words are not just definitions; they are guiding principles for anyone doing science. Without these, scientific discoveries can be misused, misunderstood, or even fabricated. Imagine a scientist making up data to get a desired result. What could be the consequences of that?"

(Encourage answers about misleading the public, harmful products, or loss of trust in science. Briefly transition to Slide 3 of the Accountable Science Slide Deck to further explain 'Why Accountability Matters'.)

Collaborative Activity: Ethical Dilemmas in Science (20 minutes)

"Now, let's apply these concepts. We're going to engage in an activity called 'Ethical Dilemmas in Science.' (Transition to Slide 4 of the Accountable Science Slide Deck). In your same pairs, your task is to analyze scenarios where accountable and ethical practices are put to the test.

(Transition to Slide 5 of the Accountable Science Slide Deck).

"Each pair will choose one scenario from the Ethical Dilemmas Discussion. For your chosen scenario, you will:

1. Read the scenario carefully.
2. Identify the ethical issues at play. What's the core problem?
3. Determine which accountable practices are being challenged or upheld. Are they practicing data integrity? Avoiding bias? Responsible with their findings?
4. Propose ethical solutions or best practices. What should the scientists or researchers do to act responsibly?

"You'll have about 15-17 minutes for this discussion and analysis. Remember to justify your reasoning using the vocabulary we just learned. I'll be circulating to listen in and help guide your thinking."

(Circulate, listen for specific vocabulary use, prompt students to think about different perspectives, and the long-term impact of their proposed solutions. Ensure all pairs have selected a scenario and are engaged.)

Wrap Up: Share and Reflect (5 minutes)

"Time is up for our ethical discussions! (Signal for attention.) Let's bring our attention back to the front. (Transition to Slide 6 of the Accountable Science Slide Deck). That was some deep thinking, and I heard many thoughtful conversations.

"Let's share out. Can a pair tell us about one of the ethical challenges they identified in their scenario and what accountable practices were most relevant? (Call on 1-2 pairs to share.)

"What strategies can scientists use to ensure data is collected and presented with integrity and without bias? (Prompt for responses like peer review, transparency, honest reporting.)

"Why is personal responsibility so important when conducting scientific research?"

(Guide students to reflect on the importance of peer review, transparency, honest reporting, and continuous self-reflection.)

"Fantastic reflections. Understanding and upholding accountable and ethical practices is not just about avoiding mistakes; it's about building a foundation of trust that allows scientific knowledge to truly benefit humanity."

Exit Ticket: Ethical Reflection (Cool Down) (5 minutes)

"For our exit ticket today, I'd like you to complete the Cool Down: Ethical Reflection Exit Ticket on your digital devices. Please describe one way you can personally ensure that data is collected and presented ethically in any future scientific work you might do. This will help me see your key takeaways. Make sure to submit it before you leave today. Great work, everyone!"

Ethical Dilemmas Discussion: Accountable Science

Instructions for Pairs: Choose one scenario below. Discuss the ethical dilemma, identify accountable practices that are relevant (or violated), and propose how the scientists or researchers should proceed ethically and responsibly. Be prepared to share your reasoning with the class.

Scenario 1: The 'Missing' Data Points

A team of scientists is conducting research on a new drug. After analyzing their initial data, they find that a few data points from their experiment don't fit the pattern and would weaken their overall conclusions, which are otherwise very promising. The lead researcher suggests, "These few outliers must be errors. Let's just exclude them from the final analysis to present a clearer, stronger result." Another team member is hesitant.

Ethical Questions:

• What is the ethical dilemma here?
• Which accountable practices are being challenged?
• What should the team do to maintain data integrity and ethical responsibility?

Scenario 2: Unacknowledged Contributions

Two student partners, Alex and Ben, work together on a biology project for weeks. Alex does most of the experimental setup and data collection, while Ben focuses on the research paper and presentation. When it's time to submit the final report, Ben puts only his name as the primary author, mentioning Alex only briefly in a footnote, even though they agreed to share equal credit. Alex feels his contributions are being unfairly minimized.

Ethical Questions:

• What ethical issues are present in this scenario?
• How does this relate to accountability in collaboration and academic integrity?
• What steps should be taken to ensure fair credit and prevent plagiarism?

Scenario 3: Funding and Bias

A company that produces sugary drinks funds a research study on the health effects of sugar. The results of the study, published by independent scientists, show no significant link between moderate sugar consumption and negative health outcomes. However, a rival company points out that all the scientists on the research team have previously received large grants or consulting fees from the sugary drink industry. Critics suggest this creates a conflict of interest and potential bias in the research.

Ethical Questions:

• What is the potential for bias in this research?
• How does funding influence accountability in scientific research?
• What measures should scientists take to ensure transparency and avoid perceived bias, even if their findings are accurate?

Scenario 4: Premature Public Announcement

A researcher discovers preliminary results that suggest a promising new treatment for a serious disease. The results are exciting but have not yet undergone peer review or been replicated by other independent labs. The researcher decides to announce these findings to the media immediately, hoping to gain public attention and secure more funding, even though the treatment is not ready for human trials and could create false hope.

Ethical Questions:

• What are the ethical concerns with prematurely announcing scientific findings?
• How does this action impact scientific accountability and public trust?
• What is the responsible way for scientists to communicate groundbreaking, but unconfirmed, results?

Scenario 5: Informed Consent in Studies

A social science researcher wants to study the impact of a new teaching method on student performance. They decide to implement the new method in one classroom and continue with the traditional method in another, without informing the students or their parents that they are part of an experiment. The researcher believes that informing them would influence the results.

Ethical Questions:

• What ethical principle is being violated in this scenario?
• Why is informed consent crucial in research involving human subjects?
• What steps should the researcher take to conduct this study ethically while still gathering valuable data?

Accountability Practices Activity: Ethical Dilemmas in Science

Objective: To analyze ethical dilemmas in scientific research and identify accountable practices.

Your Task:

Work in Pairs

• With your partner, choose one scenario from the Ethical Dilemmas Discussion.
• Read the scenario carefully and discuss it thoroughly.

Analysis Questions:

1. Identify the Ethical Dilemma: What is the core ethical problem or challenge presented in this scenario? Be specific.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Relevant Accountable Practices: Which accountable practices (e.g., data integrity, transparency, avoiding bias, proper attribution, informed consent) are involved or being violated in this scenario? Explain how.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Impact of the Actions: What are the potential consequences or impacts (on the research, on public trust, on individuals, etc.) of the actions described in the scenario?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Proposed Ethical Solution: How should the scientists or researchers in this scenario proceed to ensure ethical responsibility and accountable practices? Outline specific steps or changes they should make.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Prepare to Share:

• Be ready to summarize your chosen scenario and your proposed ethical solution with the rest of the class. Justify your reasoning using the vocabulary and concepts discussed today.

Cool Down: Ethical Reflection Exit Ticket

Name:

Instructions: Reflect on today's lesson about accountable science and ethical responsibility.

1. Describe one specific action you can take to ensure that data is collected and presented ethically in any scientific endeavor you might undertake (e.g., a school project, a future career). Explain why this action is important for maintaining scientific integrity and public trust.