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177 Interesting Ethics Paper Topics For Your Thesis

Ethics is a branch of study in philosophy that studies the concept of morality—what is good or bad, what is acceptable or unacceptable. It’s a philosophical theory that looks into moral rules and codes, principles, value systems, and other related concepts.

In academia, an ethical theory is used as one of the analytical tools in drawing analysis on several socio-cultural topics. Ethics can be applied to any particular subject matter in human society. And, on this, so many compelling, controversial or interesting ethical topics for academic essays and research papers have continued to spring up.

For students writing either an essay or a research paper on ethics, there are some relevant things to note about a good essay/research topic and writing a dissertation. They include:

Brainstorm on different topics Always go for a topic you are familiar with Choose a topic that has enough “flesh”. This is important as interesting topics will help you develop your essay/research Define your subject of interest. It makes the writing easier Properly researching for topics that serve contemporary social relevance Outlining is important for your research topic

What following some of these processes does for your essay/research/thesis is that it enriches your work and affords you the ability to communicate ideas clearly to readers. Here are some topics in ethics you can use for your essay/research.

Interesting Top Level Ethics Paper Topics for All Students

Writing a paper on ethics makes for an interesting writing experience because they usually require that the writer make a case for a particular subject based on whether the subject is right or wrong. There are so many ethical topics for papers. As a student, there are several ethical questions to debate, and you can choose to model your topic using some of these samples:

• Discuss what should be done concerning the rise in the ban on safe abortion
• Is the right to safe abortion practice unethical?
• Should abortion practice be promoted or championed for women in society?
• Are humans truly the root source for the issues of climate change and global warming the world is currently experiencing?
• Is it right to discriminate against the sexes?
• Is there a defining difference between sexes and gender?
• Is the practice of gender-based violence ethical?
• Should safe sexual practices be promoted?
• Sex: A Study of the growing practice of sexual relationships outside marriage
• Domestic Violence and how it can be combated
• Marijuana: The distinction to its health roles and health challenges it poses on individuals
• Is it unethical to promote capitalism and capitalist concepts?
• A Study of Racism and measures to ensure its decline
• Is it ethical to be a millionaire while there are so many less privileged people?
• A study of the ethical challenges that come with being in the academia
• Is war an ethical practice?
• Why LGBTQ+ people should not be discriminated against
• What are the ways workplace ethics can address issues of homophobia and internalized sexism?
• Is sexism in the workplace an ethical practice?
• The issue of microaggression and how it can be addressed
• A study of why workplaces need ethical conduct that monitors issues of workplace harassment
• Should salaries be uneven?
• How unethical are uneven salary payment structures?
• Should start-up tech companies hire more men for starters?
• How people can prioritize online privacy
• Is bridging online privacy unethical?
• Is the right to privacy unethical?

Engaging Ethical Dilemma Topics

As ethics deals with the debate on morals, one of the ways topics on ethics manifests is in the subject of dilemma. Topics like this focus on trying to find a suitable justification for one idea over another. There are several ethics topics to write about on this subject. Some of them include:

• Should students be allowed to bring their phones to school?
• Should parents police every social activity of their children?
• Should teachers use the cane on students as a disciplinary measure?
• Is flogging a good correctional practice?
• Should you leave your partner if they are of opposing political views?
• Should opposing religious beliefs be a deal-breaker in relationships?
• Should capitalism be abolished completely?
• Should a teacher maintain some level of friendship with their students?
• Is there any lingering importance of capitalism to society?
• Is revenge a viable option in a relationship if your partner cheats on you?
• Is sharing your experiences online the same as showing off a lifestyle?
• Should people from different religious beliefs and backgrounds partner?
• Is checking the DNA of your children important or necessary?
• Should parents enforce their children on behaviors to take up?
• Can discipline properly correct the attitudes of a child?
• Should eating junk foods be avoided completely?
• Should Halloween Trick or Treat and Costume be prioritized over Thanksgiving Dinners?
• Should children hold different religious beliefs from their parents while still young?
• Does strict parenting serve as the best way to raise a child?
• Is it important to reveal a secret to a friend or to keep one’s peace?
• Should cooking at home be prioritized over eating out?
• Is socialism a more suitable social practice than capitalism?
• Is accepting financial assistance from your parents acceptable after a certain age?
• Should school authorities seize phones brought to school?
• Is sending a child to a mixed school better than same-sex schools?
• Can afforestation alone save the world from global warming and the general climate change condition?
• Does being educated equate with being intelligent?

Ethical Issues to Write about in Your College Essay

One important thing to note about ethical topics is that they touch across so many different subjects. As a college student preparing to write an essay on ethics, rest assured as there are so many ethics ideas to write about. Here are some ethical topics to write about:

• Does Hiring female employees cover a company’s sexist motives?
• Should Actors be paid more than teachers?
• Taking medical decisions for a patient without their consent
• How ethical is the interference of the judiciary by the legislative arm of government?
• Is it ethical to fire someone due to their dress code?
• Is it unethical to wear colored hair to work?
• Is censorship ethical?
• Where does media censorship draw the line?
• Is it ethical for religious figureheads to meddle in state politics?
• Should gender be the reason why a person is restricted access to certain social privileges?
• Should sexuality be a discriminatory factor in society?
• Should companies and places of work provide counseling and therapy services for their employees?
• Can Children wear makeup on special occasions?
• Is it unethical to make medical decisions for a patient without any recognizable relatives?
• Does dress code need to affect how you are addressed?
• Should implementing ethics in sports be recommended?
• Is police brutality an ethical practice?
• The impacts of the excessive consumption of media content?
• Is the excessive use of social media healthy?
• How can companies ensure paid maternal and paternal leave?
• How can the inclusion of non-binary people in company policies promote growth?
• Is exclusion on the grounds of sexuality ethical?
• Is exclusion due to political beliefs unethical?
• How to promote ethical work culture?
• How can a company ensure that ethical practices are promoted in their companies?

Ethical Argument Topics to Write About

The best part about writing an ethical essay is that it is about anything that is of interest. An important aspect of the ethical argument topic is that it is supported with evidence. There are so many ethical topics to write about that fall within this category, and they include:

• Is the having of ethical codes and conducts important in an organization?
• Should people only implement progressive ideas to meet societal needs?
• Why LGBTQ+ should not be discriminated against
• Is it unethical to come to work late?
• Is government-sanctioned execution an ethical practice?
• Is the American incarceration system an effective corrective system?
• Is corrective rape an ethical practice?
• Should the issue of internalized homophobia be addressed?
• Internalized patriarchy and internalized homophobia, which one births one
• Should smoking weed be made legal?
• Why do the less privileged need free healthcare services
• A study of the effects of colonialism and internalized slavery
• Must aspiring journalists only focus on journalism courses?
• Addressing what it means to be of ethical behavior
• Should students be given a take-home assignment?
• Is there any academic relevance to assignments?
• Is access to free healthcare important?
• Does following the ethics code have abt social relevance?
• What role should developed countries play for developing countries?
• Is analysis writing an important aspect of literature?
• What role does ethics play in schools
• Should the address of global warming be continuous?
• Is there room for possible positive developments in global warming?
• Is the practice of ethics the same as moral teaching
• Should schools create sex education into their education curriculum

Comprehensive Ethics Debate Topics for Anyone

Just like the argumentative ethics topic, a debate topic on ethics centers majorly on choosing a part to argue for or against. This argument also is wrapped with evidence to support it. Your ethic topics can be on any subject. You can choose moral topics or any other topic with relevance. Here are some lists of ethical debate topics anyone can write on:

• Should the use of Contraceptives be promoted?
• Does legalizing weed make it any healthier?
• Should school children bring phones into school settings?
• The health impact of excessive engagement on social media
• Social relevance and importance of having ethical conducts
• Do companies with ethical conduct grow ahead
• Does ethics make a workplace safer?
• Are there importance on why sex education should be added to student’s
• Why safe abortion rights should be legalized
• Why the discrimination based on sexuality is harmful
• Why the practice of hedonism is important
• Sexual pleasure: Is it morally good?
• Is happiness dependent on an external factor?
• Why Institutionalized racism is the root cause of racism and racist beliefs
• Should the use of drugs be legalized?
• Is there any progressive importance to having a conservative view on things?
• Should social media apps allow explicit sexual content?
• Should social app builders have access to individual account
• Can homeschool match formal school training?
• Should the government ensure censorship measures?
• Is voting during elections the only form of patriotism?
• Is voting a patriotic display
• Are families allowed to have contradicting religious beliefs?
• Should state governments have any interference with the federal government?
• Should teenagers have access to contraceptives?

Good Ethical Research Papers for your Thesis or Dissertation

Writing either a thesis or a dissertation is a necessary part of academia. As a university student, you can’t graduate from only writing essays withiut writing your graduating thesis. There are so many areas your research paper about ethics can focus on. Here is a list of ethical topics:

• The contemporary relevance of applied ethics
• The psychological impacts of the proliferation of technology
• A Case Study of the legality of weed
• A multi-dimensional approach to the subject of marriage
• An ethical approach to the killing of animals
• A case study of the critical ethical debates on the use of contraception
• An analytical study of the relevance of ethical conduct in the workplace
• An investigation into the social relevance and importance of the beauty pageantry culture
• A critical study of normative ethics
• The role of applied ethics in the building of a healthy work culture
• An overview of the barriers associated with good leadership practice
• A Study of the importance of ethical practice in the healthcare system
• The study of ethics in business social responsibility
• An Overview on how Ethics promotes a saner working culture
• A look into how ethics promotes healthy social relationships
• The ethical relevance for Doctor and Patient Confidentiality
• Malpractice and Negligence an ethically challenging issue within the healthcare system
• The social and health relevance to access to free healthcare insurance
• A Study of the social relevance of ethics
• Violence: violence against animals is still abuse
• A look into strategic approaches to managing cyber crimes
• Ethic reasons for the separation of the church from politics
• Ethical Conduct: How Organizations with practicable ethics produces a toxic work environment
• A look into how Social media negatively impacts the IQ of a student
• The role of self-awareness and professional responsibility impacts social ethics in the workplace

Good Ethical Questions for Discussion

Primarily, ethics asks and answers the question of wrong or good. There are so many social issues that will make for good ethical questions for discussion. Here is a list of ethical questions for students to form insights from:

• How does ethics help to promote healthy workplace awareness?
• Does the practice of abortion negate morality?
• Is it right for a rape victim to be denied access to safe and free abortion?
• How do homophobia, racism, misogyny, and ableist practices hinder social growth?
• Should there be free access to condoms and contraceptive pills?
• Is free access to contraceptives better than the provision of menstrual materials
• How can racism be dismantled in an organization without consideration to institutionalized racism?
• How does the continuous promotion of capitalist concepts hinder societal progress?
• Does capitalism truly hinder social growth?
• Why should there be free access to contraceptive materials especially for women?
• What are the possible feasible solutions to the issue of climate change?
• Is it unethical not to share the wealth?
• Is engaging in warfare the right way to bring solutions?
• Does the use of makeup contradict the concept of beauty?
• Why are LGBTQ+ rights human rights?
• Is the legalization of cannabis ethical?
• Does the way you dress need to be the reason you are addressed a certain way?
• Are there moral problems that come with job automation?
• What can be done to combat the use of harmful substances
• Why should companies stop discriminating based on sex?
• What is the social relevance of providing workplace access?
• Why should parents and teachers stop flogging students?
• What is the distinction between discipline and strictness?
• Should religious beliefs be a dealbreaker in any relationship?

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376 Ethical Topics & Questions for Research Papers, Essays, Debates, & More

Are there white lies with good intentions? Should euthanasia be permitted by law?

Both of these questions are ethical dilemmas – situations with two or more conflicting moral choices. Ethical dilemmas involve conflicting values and moral obligations. To ease the understanding of such predicaments, you can approach ethics (or moral philosophy). This branch of philosophy suggests the concepts of good and bad and provides theories to determine moral behavior.

In this article, we will explore different ethical topics and theories applicable to them. You will also find practical tips on how to write an essay on the most complex ethical issue. Let’s start!

• 💥 TOP 12 Ethical Topics

📚 Normative Ethical Theories

• 🤔 How to Answer Ethical Dilemmas

📝 Ethical Research Paper Topics

🧑🏾‍⚕️ ethical topics in healthcare.

• 🌳 Environmental Ethical Issues

🖥️ Ethical Topics in Technology

⚡ ethical argument topics.

• 🏺 Philosophy Essay Topics
• 👩🏽‍🎓 Ethical Questions for Students

💬 Ethical Persuasive Speech Topics

🔦 ethical topics for presentation, ❓ ethical questions: faq, 🔗 references, 💥 top-12 ethical topics.

Here are some ethical topics that are popular for discussion in 2023:

• Privacy concerns in social media advertisement.
• Ethics of using artificial intelligence for marketing.
• Digital surveillance and personal data protection.
• Genetic engineering and ethical boundaries.
• Ethical issues in educational technology.
• Ethical challenges in healthcare data sharing.
• Environmental ethics and sustainable development.
• Ethical dilemmas of autonomous vehicles.
• Bioethics in medical research and experimentation.
• Ethical considerations in cybersecurity practices.
• Ethical concerns in the use of big data.
• Ethical implications of blockchain technology.

Normative ethical theories provide principles or guidelines for determining what is morally right or wrong. There are three broad (and competing) groups of ethical theories:

• Consequentialism believes that the consequences of an action determine its moral value.
• Deontology emphasizes adherence to moral rules and duties.
• Virtue ethics focuses on developing moral character and embodying virtuous traits.

🤔 How to Answer Ethical Dilemma Questions

Sometimes it seems that ethical dilemmas don’t have the right answers . But you can choose the best one for yourself if you establish a certain decision-making algorithm.

To answer ethical dilemma questions, follow these steps:

Below, you will see lists of ethical topics from different areas of human knowledge and activities. There are plenty of topics to write about, no matter what your focus of study is.

Ethical Topics in Business

• Corporate social responsibility in multinational companies.
• The role of business ethics in insurance companies .
• Ethical challenges in international supply chain management.
• Transparency and accountability in financial reporting.
• The role of business ethics in recruiting new employees using social media .
• Workplace diversity and inclusion ethics in the USA.
• Data privacy and security of employees in the workplace.
• Global warming and business ethics .
• Bribery and corruption in business transactions.
• Whistleblowing and ethical reporting mechanisms.
• Business ethics: Indian tea plantation workers .
• Ethical considerations in advertising and marketing practices.
• Fairtrade and ethical sourcing in global business.
• Business ethics of concealing facts in reports .
• Ethical leadership and decision-making in organizations.

Ethical Fashion Topics

• Sustainability and eco-friendly practices in fashion.
• Maintaining ethical standards in fashion .
• Ethical implications of fast fashion and overconsumption.
• Fair wages and labor rights in garment manufacturing.
• Supply chain as a crucial component of sustainability in the fashion industry .
• Animal cruelty-free and ethical sourcing of materials.
• Transparency in supply chains and traceability of products.
• Child labor in the fashion industry .
• Body image and ethical representation in fashion advertising.
• Recycling and upcycling in the fashion industry.
• Overseas sweatshops in the fashion industry .
• Cultural appropriation and respect for traditional designs.
• Ethical considerations in fashion collaborations and partnerships.
• Fashion Nova’s labor standards and transparency .
• Fashion industry’s impact on local communities and artisans.

Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice Topics

• Use of force and police brutality in the United States.
• The code of ethics in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice .
• Racial profiling and discriminatory practices in law enforcement.
• Ethical considerations in undercover operations and informant handling.
• Criminal justice: philosophies of corrections .
• Integrity and honesty in witness testimony and evidence presentation.
• Ethical challenges in the use of informants and confidential sources.
• Professional ethics in criminal justice: Singleton vs. Norris .
• Juvenile justice and ethical treatment of young offenders.
• Capital punishment and ethical implications of the death penalty.
• Criminal justice ethics: police corruption & drug sales .
• Ethical issues in plea bargaining and prosecutorial discretion.
• Ethical responsibilities of defense attorneys and client representation.
• The criminal justice service violations and ethical issues .
• Rehabilitation and ethical approaches to offender reintegration.

Media Ethics Paper Topics

• Accuracy and fact-checking in media reporting.
• Communication and social media ethics in the United Arab Emirates .
• Journalism ethics in the era of misinformation.
• Privacy concerns and ethical boundaries in media coverage.
• Media ethics: censorship of online material and behavior .
• Ethical considerations in photojournalism and image manipulation.
• Sensationalism and ethical dilemmas in news reporting.
• Media ethics: principle of privacy .
• Conflict of interest and transparency in media ownership.
• Diversity and representation in media storytelling and content.
• Mass media ethics in news coverage .
• Ethical challenges in social media and online journalism.
• Intellectual property and plagiarism in media production.
• Media censorship in the US .
• The role of media in promoting ethical discourse.

Ethics in healthcare ensures that medical professionals prioritize patient well-being, maintain confidentiality, and make decisions rooted in moral principles. Choose one of the topics below for a paper on ethics in medicine:

• Informed consent and patient autonomy in healthcare decisions.
• Healthcare ethics: physician-assisted death .
• Ethical considerations in end-of-life care and medical assistance.
• Allocation of scarce resources and equitable healthcare distribution.
• Abortion: an ethical dilemma .
• Confidentiality and privacy of patient health information.
• Ethical challenges in clinical research and human experimentation.
• Medical ethics: implications of a confidentiality breach .
• Ethics of physician-assisted suicide in healthcare.
• Organ transplantation and ethical considerations in donor selection.
• Obamacare and healthcare reform: ethical challenges .
• Ethical dilemmas in reproductive medicine and assisted reproduction .
• Cultural competence and ethical practices in healthcare delivery.
• Medical ethics: pet euthanasia .
• Ethical considerations in the use of emerging technologies in healthcare.

Ethical Topics in Nursing

• Ethical considerations of artificial intelligence in nursing care.
• Nursing ethics in patient advocacy .
• Understanding and managing confidentiality breaches in nursing.
• Ethical implications of assisted suicide for nursing practice.
• Hospice care and nursing ethics provisions .
• The moral dilemma of resource allocation in nursing.
• Addressing the tension between cultural sensitivity and medical guidelines.
• Euthanizing handicapped people: ethical and moral concerns .
• Discussing the impact of health inequities on nursing ethics.
• Ethical challenges in implementing telehealth in nursing.
• Circumcision: ethical dilemma and a nurse’s role in it .
• The moral landscape of mandatory vaccination for nurses.
• The nursing profession’s role in addressing medical errors.
• Ethic-of-care and ethic-of-justice in nursing leadership .
• Exploring the nurse’s role in patient advocacy.

Biomedical Ethics Topics

• Impact of gene editing on the future of healthcare.
• Cryonics and its ethical side .
• Ethical issues surrounding prenatal genetic testing.
• The role of bioethics in emerging infectious diseases.
• Embryo harvesting: ethical implications .
• Ethical challenges in stem cell research .
• Ethical considerations in human organ and tissue transplantation.
• Bioethics: the use of marijuana for medical purposes .
• Privacy and consent in the age of digital health data.
• Addressing animal rights in the context of biomedical research.
• Neuroimaging methods and arising ethical issues .
• The ethics of personalized medicine and genetic discrimination.
• Bioethics of advancements in neurotechnology and brain-computer interfaces.
• Cloning research ethics: ethical dispute and issues .
• The ethics of extending human lifespan through biotechnology.
• Surgery complications and bioethical decision-making .

🌳 Environmental Ethical Issues Topics

Environmental ethics guide individuals and organizations to act responsibly towards the planet. Such actions promote sustainable practices and biodiversity conservation and mitigate the adverse impacts of human activities on ecosystems. Here is a list of ethical environmental topics for research:

• Ethical responsibility for climate change for future generations.
• Sea dumping: legal and ethical issues .
• The role of environmental justice in urban planning.
• Ethical considerations in the use and disposal of plastics.
• The issue of global climate change from an ethical perspective .
• Implications of luxury fashion on the environment and ethics.
• The ethical responsibility of corporations in pollution.
• Land use and environmental ethics .
• The intersection of environmental ethics and indigenous rights.
• The ethical debate surrounding geoengineering as a climate solution.
• Environmental ethics: genetically modified organisms .
• The moral duty towards the preservation of biodiversity.
• Ethical considerations in the transition to renewable energy sources.
• Environmental ethics: intrinsic value of objects .
• The role of capitalism in environmental degradation.
• Commercial fishing: environmental ethics case study .

Animal Ethics Topics

• Ethical considerations in the treatment of companion animals.
• Nestlé animal testing and business ethics .
• The role of ethics in wildlife conservation efforts.
• The ethics of animal testing in scientific research.
• Ethical issues in animal research .
• The environmental and ethical impact of factory farming.
• The moral status of animals in ecological ethics.
• Is animal testing ethical ?
• Ethical approaches to invasive species management.
• Addressing the ethical implications of zoos and animal captivity.
• Ethics of using animals in medical research .
• The ethical debate around hunting as a conservation strategy.
• Ethics of the human-wildlife conflict resolution.
• Scientific experiments on animals from ethical perspectives .
• The moral side of animal cloning and bioengineering.

Food Ethics Topics

• Ethical concerns of genetically modified foods’ impact on the environment.
• Underweight products and deontological ethics .
• Food waste and its ethical concerns.
• The ethical debate on organic versus conventional farming.
• Ethical eating in daily food practices .
• The ethical and ecological effects of the meat industry.
• Balancing the demand for seafood with sustainable practices.
• Food safety issues in modern agriculture .
• The ethics of the global food supply chain in developing countries.
• Evaluation of the environmental ethics of palm oil production.
• Food ads ban for childhood obesity prevention .
• Food sovereignty and its significance in ecological ethics.
• The ethical implications of mono-cropping and biodiversity loss.
• Do marketers condition us to buy more junk food ?
• Ethical dilemmas in the use of pesticides in agriculture.

In the technology sphere , ethics can influence the development and use of innovations. Ethical approach ensures privacy protection and promotes inclusive technology solutions. Below, you will find several topic lists regarding ethics in technology:

Computer Science Ethics Topics

• The ethical concerns of artificial intelligence development.
• Electronic surveillance as an unethical practice .
• Outdoor privacy and surveillance in the digital age.
• The ethics of data collection and use by tech companies.
• Computer attacks and critical privacy threats .
• Implications of autonomous vehicles on societal ethics and safety.
• Ethical considerations in the development and use of deepfakes.
• Obscenity and computer ethics .
• Cybersecurity and ethical considerations in protecting user data.
• The ethics of algorithmic bias in machine learning.
• Computer ethics and privacy .
• Ethical challenges in the application of facial recognition technology.
• The responsibility of tech companies in spreading disinformation.
• Computer ethics and data protection .
• The ethics behind AI’s influence on job displacement and unemployment.

Aviation Ethics Topics

• Ethical challenges of automation in aviation safety.
• Aviation security and Al-Qaeda in Yemen .
• The balance between profitability and safety in commercial aviation.
• Ethical responsibilities of air traffic controllers.
• Safety risks in the modern aviation industry .
• Ethical considerations in the age of crewless aerial vehicles.
• Ethics of environmental sustainability in the aviation industry.
• Criminalization of aviation accidents .
• Ethical challenges in aviation maintenance practices.
• The moral dilemma of overbooking flights in the airline industry.
• Aviation security is over-reliant on technology .
• Ethical issues in the crisis management in aviation.
• The role of whistleblowers in promoting aviation safety.
• Sustainability in global aviation companies .
• Ethical implications of advanced surveillance technologies in aviation security.

Engineering Ethics Research Paper Topics

• Navigating the ethics of autonomous vehicles in society.
• Engineering professionalism and ethics .
• The role of ethics in sustainable engineering practices.
• Ethical considerations in the age of artificial intelligence engineering.
• Chernobyl disaster and engineering ethics .
• Conflicts between innovation and safety in civil engineering projects.
• The responsibility of engineers in managing climate change.
• Engineering ethics: patent rights and legal issues .
• Ethical challenges in the disclosure of engineering failures.
• The implications of biotechnology in bioengineering ethics.
• Machinery accident from an ethical standpoint .
• The role of ethics in software engineering and data privacy.
• Ethical considerations in the use of drones for engineering.
• Ethical manufacturing and technology trends .
• The ethical dilemmas in nuclear engineering.
• Engineering competence and the code of ethics .
• The ethics of using performance-enhancing drugs in sports.
• Circumcision: medical, ethical, and human rights issues .
• Should artificial intelligence be allowed to make life-or-death decisions?
• Do celebrities have a moral responsibility to be role models?
• Nightingale Pledge: medical ethics perspectives .
• The ethical debate on privacy versus security in the digital age.
• Are autonomous vehicles a boon or a bane for society?
• Hurricane Katrina: government ethical dilemmas .
• Should schools be allowed to use surveillance cameras on students?
• Is it ethical to use animals for scientific experimentation?
• Debate on circumcision: is it unethical and unlawful ?
• Is the use of gene editing in babies ethically acceptable?
• Is it ethically right to deny healthcare based on lifestyle choices?
• Samsung and child labor: business ethics case .
• The ethics of commercialization of organ transplants.
• Are social platforms ethically responsible for the spread of fake news?
• Obesity in Afro-Americans: ethics of intervention .
• Should governments be allowed to censor the internet for national security?
• Is it ethically right to use facial recognition technology in public?
• Fetal abnormality and the ethical dilemma of abortion .
• Is it ethical to prioritize economic growth over environmental sustainability?
• The ethical implications of giving minorities benefits in college admissions.
• Discrimination as an unethical business situation .
• Should companies have the right to track their employees’ online activities?
• The ethical debate on the death penalty as a justice form.
• Ethical dilemmas in business: KFC Company’s case .
• Is it ethically acceptable to use AI for predictive policing ?
• Should parents have the right to choose their child’s genetic traits?
• The relationship between economic rationality and ethical behaviour .
• Is it ethically right to implement social credit systems in society?

🏺 Philosophy Essay Topics: Ethics

• The role of cultural relativism in moral philosophy.
• Aristotle’s views on ethics .
• Ethics of the philosophy of existentialism.
• Kantian ethics in contemporary society.
• Kant’s deontological ethical theory .
• The use of virtue ethics in modern moral dilemmas.
• The influence of Stoicism on contemporary ethical thinking.
• Cicero’s views on citizenship and ethics .
• The ethical debate on utilitarianism versus deontology .
• The philosophical implications of moral objectivism versus moral subjectivism.
• Kant’s and Mill’s ethical philosophies .
• Ethical implications of free will in the era of AI.
• The philosophy of ethical egoism in capitalist societies.
• Aristotle’s ethical theory about euthanasia .
• The relevance of Nietzsche’s master-slave morality in modern ethics.
• The role of empathy in moral philosophy and ethics.
• Moral philosophical views: from Plato to Nussbaum .
• Ethical questions raised by determinism and indeterminism.
• The influence of Eastern philosophies on contemporary ethics.
• Aristotle and virtue ethics .
• The role of ethics in postmodern philosophy.
• The ethics of responsibility in existentialist thought.
• Theories of ethics: consequentialism and ethical relativism .
• Moral obligations towards future generations in environmental ethics.
• Individual ethics versus collective ethics.
• Philosophical views of ethics and morality .
• Aristotle’s concept of eudaimonia in modern society.
• The ethical questions raised by the philosophy of solipsism.
• Nonconsequential theory of ethics: case analysis .
• The ethics of hedonism in contemporary societies.

👩🏽‍🎓 List of Ethical Questions for Students

We have ensured that you can find the perfect ethical topic depending on the type of assignment you received. You can find debate, discussion, speech, and presentation topics here.

Ethical Debate Topics

• What are the ethical implications of capital punishment?
• Fetus with deformities: what is its moral status ?
• Should there be a moral limit to scientific discoveries?
• Is it ethical to use animals in circus performances?
• How do ethical theories view gay marriage ?
• Is the commercialization of human organs ethical?
• Is it ethical to use DNA from extinct species?
• Should parents be responsible for children’s crimes ?
• Should physicians be allowed to assist in patient suicide?
• Is it ethical to clone humans for medical purposes?
• Should parents spank their children ?
• Is the use of child labor ethical?
• Should religious beliefs influence public health policy?
• Why should you be moral when it is not in your best interest to do so ?
• Should gene editing in unborn children be allowed?
• Is it ethical to implement robotic soldiers in warfare?
• Should the United States abolish the death penalty ?
• Is euthanasia in terminally ill patients ethical?
• Should society implement universal basic income?
• Should the sale of human organs be legalized ?
• Is it ethical to design babies with specific traits?
• Is the censorship of artistic expression ethical?
• Should animals be used in medical research ?

Ethical Discussion Topics

• The ethical implications of social media on personal privacy.
• Should sex and violence be restricted on television ?
• How should we address ethical issues in global outsourcing?
• The ethical implications of data breaches and digital privacy.
• Should same-sex couples be allowed to adopt children ?
• The ethics of sustainable consumption of electronic devices.
• The ethics of wealth disparity in capitalist societies.
• Should we not abolish capital punishment ?
• The role of ethics in sustainable development and climate change.
• Ethical considerations of health disparities in society.
• Should smoking be illegal ?
• Ethical considerations of pandemic response and vaccine distribution.
• The role of ethics in animal rights and testing.
• Should parents avoid vaccinating their children ?
• Ethical considerations in the rise of the gig economy.
• The ethical implications of facial recognition technology in public.
• The right-to-die bill: why should all states pass it ?
• Ethical dilemmas in genetic testing and personalized medicine.
• The role of ethics in global migration and refugee crisis.
• Should cigarette manufacturers be prohibited ?
• The ethics of using AI in predictive policing.
• The ethical considerations of child labor in global supply chains.
• Should Kant be criticized for his absolutism ?
• Why should animal testing for cosmetics be globally banned?
• Corporate fraud as an ethical and leadership dilemma .
• The need for ethical considerations in AI development.
• Why the right to privacy should be prioritized in the digital age?
• Stem cell research ethics, pros and cons, and benefits .
• The importance of ethical farming practices for a sustainable future.
• Why must corporations take responsibility for their carbon emissions?
• Ethics of Obamacare and Trumpcare .
• The necessity of ethical treatment of workers in global supply chains.
• The importance of ethical considerations in medical research.
• Should Americans adopt a vegan lifestyle ?
• Why should technology companies be held accountable for data breaches?
• The need for ethical standards in reporting and journalism.
• Should we withhold life support ?
• Why should businesses prioritize corporate social responsibility?
• The importance of ethical considerations in education system reforms.
• Should children be tried as adults for murder ?
• Why should organ donation be encouraged as an ethical duty?
• The necessity of transparency in governmental decision-making.
• Ethical dilemma: should gene editing be performed on human embryos ?
• Why should we consider the ethical implications of autonomous weapons?
• The importance of sustainable consumption in the fight against climate change.
• Animal testing for cosmetic or medical purposes should not be allowed .
• Why should we prioritize ethics in the fashion industry?
• The necessity for implementing ethical norms in genetic engineering.
• Should human cloning be allowed ?
• Why should we consider ethical implications of wealth disparity ?
• The importance of ethically addressing refugee and migration crises.
• How much should we do for our fellow men ?
• The necessity of ethical governance in the use of facial recognition.
• Ethical concerns in using virtual reality for psychological treatment.
• Patient’s violence and the use of doctor force – medical ethics .
• The role of ethical dilemmas in shaping public policy.
• The ethical issues and carbon footprint of global supply chains.
• British Petroleum: corruption involving ethics .
• The ethical implications of data breaches in technology companies.
• The ethical landscape of genetic engineering.
• Domino’s Pizza: ethical dilemma case .
• Ethical considerations in the use of personal data for political microtargeting.
• Evaluating the ethical considerations in predictive policing.
• The code of ethics of the American Nurses Association .
• The role of ethics in responsible journalism and fake news.
• The ethics of personalized pricing based on consumer data analysis.
• Apple Corporation: ethical and social responsibility .
• Ethical implications of intensive livestock farming on animal welfare.
• Visualizing the environmental impact of single-use plastics in marine ecosystems.
• Business ethics and dilemmas in the film Michael Clayton .
• Ethical considerations in access to healthcare for marginalized populations.
• Ethical dimensions of cultural appropriation.
• International legal and ethical issues in business .
• The role of ethics in organ donation and transplantation.
• The ethical implications of economic disparity in capitalist societies.
• Chevron Company: ethical analysis .
• Ethical considerations in journalism and media ethics.
• The role of ethics in sustainable development and consumption.
• College sport: ethical issues .
• Visualizing the environmental impact of fast fashion through data.
• Ethical dilemmas in pharmaceutical industry marketing strategies.
• Ethical dilemmas in Shakespeare’s Hamlet .
• The ethical challenges in the education reform policies.

What Are Ethical Questions?

Ethical questions are inquiries that explore moral issues, challenging us to consider right and wrong, good and bad. They often deal with dilemmas where a decision about the appropriate behavior or action must be made. Ethical questions are relevant in many fields, such as business, healthcare, politics, science, and education.

What Are the Seven Ethical Principles?

The seven ethical principles are common guidelines in ethical decision-making across various fields:

• Autonomy – respect for individuals’ right to decide for themselves.
• Beneficence – obligation to promote well-being and good.
• Non-maleficence – duty to cause no harm.
• Justice – ensuring fairness and equitable distribution of resources.
• Fidelity – maintaining loyalty and keeping promises.
• Veracity – commitment to truthfulness and honesty.
• Confidentiality – respecting the privacy of others.

What Are Some Ethical Topics?

Ethical topics cover a broad spectrum of issues across multiple domains. In healthcare, topics like euthanasia, patient confidentiality, and genetic engineering are common. In business, we discuss corporate social responsibility, whistleblowing, and fair trade. Environmental ethics covers animal rights, sustainability, and climate change. In technology, topics like data privacy, AI ethics, and cybersecurity are popular.

• Ethics Awareness: UC San Diego  
• Solving Ethical Dilemmas; Ethics in Law Enforcement  
• A Framework for Ethical Decision Making – Markkula Center for Applied Ethics  
• 5 Ethical Issues in Technology to Watch for in 2023 | CompTIA    
• The Very Best 127 Philosophical Questions 2023  
• Identifying Ethical Issues; Exploring Business  
• How to Write About an Ethical Dilemma – Synonym  
• The RIGHT Decision Method: An approach for solving ethical dilemmas | Institute on Community Integration Publications  
• A Brief Guide to Writing the Philosophy Paper | Harvard College Writing Center  
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Professional Ethics Research Paper Topics

This page provides a comprehensive list of professional ethics research paper topics , offering students studying ethics a valuable resource for their academic endeavors. Delve into the diverse world of professional ethics, explore its significance, and discover a wide array of research paper topics that can enrich your studies. Whether you seek to understand the ethical dimensions of various professions or wish to analyze ethical challenges in professional settings, this page is your gateway to a wealth of knowledge in the field of professional ethics. Additionally, learn about the writing services offered by iResearchNet, which can help you excel in your research paper assignments. Explore this page and take the first step toward crafting a compelling research paper on professional ethics.

100 Professional Ethics Research Paper Topics

Professional ethics stands as a cornerstone in the realm of ethical studies, guiding individuals and organizations toward responsible and morally sound conduct within their respective fields. It is through the lens of professional ethics that we scrutinize the behavior, values, and dilemmas that arise within various professions. This page provides an invaluable resource for students delving into the intricate world of professional ethics. By exploring the extensive list of research paper topics curated here, you will gain insights into the ethical dimensions of diverse professions and the challenges they face. Through in-depth analysis and critical examination, you can contribute to the ongoing discourse on professional ethics. Dive into this comprehensive collection, and discover the myriad topics awaiting exploration in this vital field.

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Healthcare Professions

• Ethical considerations in organ transplantation.
• The role of confidentiality in healthcare ethics.
• Medical malpractice and professional responsibility.
• Bioethical dilemmas in end-of-life care.
• Ethical implications of pharmaceutical marketing.
• Mental health professionals’ duty to protect confidentiality.
• Patient autonomy and decision-making in medical ethics.
• Ethical challenges in clinical trials and research.
• Ethics of healthcare resource allocation.
• Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide debates.

Legal and Judicial Professions

• Legal ethics and attorney-client privilege.
• Judicial impartiality and the rule of law.
• Ethical dilemmas in criminal defense.
• Professional ethics in corporate law.
• Judges’ recusal and conflicts of interest.
• Prosecutorial misconduct and accountability.
• The role of ethics in alternative dispute resolution.
• Legal ethics in the age of technology.
• The death penalty and ethical considerations.
• Ethical issues in international human rights law.

Business and Corporate Ethics

• Corporate social responsibility and ethical business practices.
• Workplace ethics and employee rights.
• Ethical dimensions of business advertising.
• The role of whistleblowers in corporate ethics.
• Environmental ethics in business and sustainability.
• Ethics in international business negotiations.
• Leadership ethics and the impact on organizational culture.
• Ethical considerations in outsourcing and globalization.
• Corporate governance and ethical decision-making.
• Business ethics in the digital age.

Journalism and Media Ethics

• Ethical challenges in reporting on sensitive topics.
• Journalistic objectivity and the pursuit of truth.
• The role of ethics in photojournalism and image manipulation.
• Media ownership and its implications for journalistic ethics.
• The impact of social media on ethical journalism.
• Whistleblowing in the media industry.
• Ethical considerations in celebrity reporting.
• Censorship, freedom of the press, and ethical dilemmas.
• Conflict of interest in journalism.
• Privacy issues in the digital media era.

Education and Academic Ethics

• Plagiarism and academic integrity.
• Ethical issues in student-teacher relationships.
• The role of ethics in academic publishing.
• Educational equity and ethical considerations.
• Ethical dilemmas in standardized testing.
• Academic freedom and its ethical boundaries.
• The ethics of diversity and inclusion in education.
• Ethics in research involving human subjects.
• Student rights and educational ethics.
• The ethics of technology in the classroom.

Engineering and Technology Ethics

• Ethical considerations in artificial intelligence development.
• Privacy concerns in the digital age.
• The impact of automation on job ethics.
• Environmental ethics in engineering and technology.
• Ethical dilemmas in genetic engineering.
• Cybersecurity and ethical responsibilities.
• Ethical dimensions of autonomous vehicles.
• Intellectual property and technology ethics.
• Ethical issues in biotechnology research.
• The role of ethics in software development.

Social Work and Counseling Ethics

• Ethical principles in counseling and psychotherapy.
• Confidentiality and informed consent in counseling.
• Ethical challenges in child welfare services.
• The intersection of spirituality and counseling ethics.
• Cultural competence and ethical practice in social work.
• Ethical considerations in addiction counseling.
• Dual relationships in therapeutic settings.
• The ethics of mental health advocacy.
• Social justice and ethical social work practice.
• Ethical issues in gerontology and elder care.

Environmental Ethics

• Conservation ethics and wildlife protection.
• Climate change ethics and global responsibility.
• Environmental justice and ethics.
• Ethical dimensions of sustainable agriculture.
• The ethics of natural resource management.
• Biodiversity preservation and ethical considerations.
• Pollution control and environmental ethics.
• Eco-friendly technology and ethical innovation.
• Corporate responsibility for environmental ethics.
• Ethical considerations in eco-tourism.

Military and Defense Ethics

• The ethics of military intervention and just war theory.
• Soldiers’ moral responsibilities in combat.
• Ethical dilemmas in intelligence operations.
• The use of drones and unmanned warfare ethics.
• Cyber warfare and its ethical implications.
• Military leadership ethics and responsibility.
• Ethical considerations in nuclear deterrence.
• War crimes, accountability, and international law.
• The ethics of humanitarian assistance in conflict zones.
• Military ethics in the digital age.

Public Service and Government Ethics

• Public officials’ duty to uphold the law and ethical conduct.
• Corruption, transparency, and government ethics.
• Whistleblowing and ethics in public service.
• Ethical dimensions of public health policy.
• Ethical challenges in international diplomacy.
• Accountability and ethical governance.
• The role of ethics in disaster management.
• Ethical considerations in intelligence agencies.
• Lobbying, special interests, and government ethics.
• Ethical issues in public-private partnerships.

The compilation above represents merely a fraction of the vast landscape of research paper topics within professional ethics. As you delve into these categories, you’ll find that professional ethics transcends specific vocations, touching on fundamental principles of responsibility, integrity, and accountability. By exploring these topics, students can gain a deeper understanding of the ethical considerations that underpin various professions and industries. From healthcare to journalism, from business to environmental preservation, professional ethics plays a pivotal role in shaping our society.

The Range of Professional Ethics Research Paper Topics

Introduction.

Professional ethics is a cornerstone of ethical studies, offering a compass to navigate the complex terrain of our working lives. As students delve into the world of ethical research, they encounter the multifaceted domain of professional ethics. This page serves as a gateway to exploring the ethical considerations that underpin various vocations and industries, providing a rich tapestry of research paper topics to explore.

Exploring Professional Ethics

Professional ethics, nestled within the larger field of applied ethics, plays a pivotal role in guiding the moral conduct of individuals and organizations in diverse professions. At its core, it seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical ethical principles and the practical realities encountered in professional life.

In various fields, ethical considerations are woven into the fabric of daily practice. For instance, healthcare professionals grapple with dilemmas related to patient autonomy, confidentiality, and end-of-life decisions. Journalists strive to balance the pursuit of truth with concerns regarding privacy and sensitivity. Business leaders navigate the intricate interplay of corporate social responsibility and profit margins.

Research in professional ethics extends beyond academia, impacting real-world practices. By examining the ethical dimensions of specific professions, scholars and practitioners can contribute to the development of ethical guidelines, policies, and practices. Such research aids in addressing ethical challenges, fostering responsible conduct, and safeguarding the integrity of professions.

Range of Research Paper Topics

Professional ethics offers a diverse array of research paper topics that span different vocations and industries, each with its unique ethical considerations. These topics shed light on the moral dimensions of professions and are integral to ethical studies:

Within the expansive realm of professional ethics, students can explore topics ranging from the ethical dilemmas in organ transplantation to legal ethics and the attorney-client privilege. They can delve into corporate social responsibility in business ethics or investigate ethical challenges in reporting sensitive topics in journalism ethics.

Ethical dimensions are not confined to traditional professions. In the ever-evolving world of technology, the ethics of artificial intelligence development and privacy concerns in the digital age are pressing topics. Additionally, questions about conservation ethics and wildlife protection resonate in environmental ethics.

These are but a few examples of the vast landscape of professional ethics research paper topics. Whether you are drawn to the complexities of healthcare, the legal arena, business ethics, or any other profession, the study of professional ethics offers a captivating journey into the moral dimensions of our working lives.

In conclusion, professional ethics is an essential facet of ethical studies, guiding individuals and organizations to uphold principles of responsibility, integrity, and accountability within their respective professions. As students embark on their exploration of professional ethics research paper topics, they enter a realm where ethical principles are put to the test in real-world scenarios.

The breadth of topics within professional ethics mirrors the diversity of professions themselves. Each field presents unique ethical challenges and dilemmas, providing a fertile ground for ethical inquiry. Through rigorous research and thoughtful analysis, students and scholars have the opportunity to contribute to ethical frameworks that shape our society and professions.

We encourage you to delve into the ethical considerations of your chosen profession, for it is within this exploration that you will uncover insights, perspectives, and solutions that can lead to a more ethical and responsible world of work. Embrace the journey, and let your research on professional ethics illuminate the path toward ethical excellence in your chosen field.

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Research Ethics & Ethical Considerations

A Plain-Language Explainer With Examples

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Reviewers: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | May 2024

Research ethics are one of those “ unsexy but essential ” subjects that you need to fully understand (and apply) to conquer your dissertation, thesis or research paper. In this post, we’ll unpack research ethics using plain language and loads of examples .

Overview: Research Ethics 101

• What are research ethics?
• Why should you care?
• Research ethics principles
• Respect for persons
• Beneficence
• Objectivity
• Key takeaways

What (exactly) are research ethics?

At the simplest level, research ethics are a set of principles that ensure that your study is conducted responsibly, safely, and with integrity. More specifically, research ethics help protect the rights and welfare of your research participants, while also ensuring the credibility of your research findings.

Research ethics are critically important for a number of reasons:

Firstly, they’re a complete non-negotiable when it comes to getting your research proposal approved. Pretty much all universities will have a set of ethical criteria that student projects need to adhere to – and these are typically very strictly enforced. So, if your proposed study doesn’t tick the necessary ethical boxes, it won’t be approved .

Beyond the practical aspect of approval, research ethics are essential as they ensure that your study’s participants (whether human or animal) are properly protected . In turn, this fosters trust between you and your participants – as well as trust between researchers and the public more generally. As you can probably imagine, it wouldn’t be good if the general public had a negative perception of researchers!

Last but not least, research ethics help ensure that your study’s results are valid and reliable . In other words, that you measured the thing you intended to measure – and that other researchers can repeat your study. If you’re not familiar with the concepts of reliability and validity , we’ve got a straightforward explainer video covering that below.

The Core Principles

In practical terms, each university or institution will have its own ethics policy – so, what exactly constitutes “ethical research” will vary somewhat between institutions and countries. Nevertheless, there are a handful of core principles that shape ethics policies. These principles include:

Let’s unpack each of these to make them a little more tangible.

Ethics Principle 1: Respect for persons

As the name suggests, this principle is all about ensuring that your participants are treated fairly and respectfully . In practical terms, this means informed consent – in other words, participants should be fully informed about the nature of the research, as well as any potential risks. Additionally, they should be able to withdraw from the study at any time. This is especially important when you’re dealing with vulnerable populations – for example, children, the elderly or people with cognitive disabilities.

Another dimension of the “respect for persons” principle is confidentiality and data protection . In other words, your participants’ personal information should be kept strictly confidential and secure at all times. Depending on the specifics of your project, this might also involve anonymising or masking people’s identities. As mentioned earlier, the exact requirements will vary between universities, so be sure to thoroughly review your institution’s ethics policy before you start designing your project.

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Ethics Principle 2: Beneficence

This principle is a little more opaque, but in simple terms beneficence means that you, as the researcher, should aim to maximise the benefits of your work, while minimising any potential harm to your participants.

In practical terms, benefits could include advancing knowledge, improving health outcomes, or providing educational value. Conversely, potential harms could include:

• Physical harm from accidents or injuries
• Psychological harm, such as stress or embarrassment
• Social harm, such as stigmatisation or loss of reputation
• Economic harm – in other words, financial costs or lost income

Simply put, the beneficence principle means that researchers must always try to identify potential risks and take suitable measures to reduce or eliminate them.

Ethics Principle 3: Objectivity

As you can probably guess, this principle is all about attempting to minimise research bias to the greatest degree possible. In other words, you’ll need to reduce subjectivity and increase objectivity wherever possible.

In practical terms, this principle has the largest impact on the methodology of your study – specifically the data collection and data analysis aspects. For example, you’ll need to ensure that the selection of your participants (in other words, your sampling strategy ) is aligned with your research aims – and that your sample isn’t skewed in a way that supports your presuppositions.

If you’re keen to learn more about research bias and the various ways in which you could unintentionally skew your results, check out the video below.

Ethics Principle 4: Integrity

Again, no surprises here; this principle is all about producing “honest work” . It goes without saying that researchers should always conduct their work honestly and transparently, report their findings accurately, and disclose any potential conflicts of interest upfront.

This is all pretty obvious, but another aspect of the integrity principle that’s sometimes overlooked is respect for intellectual property . In practical terms, this means you need to honour any patents, copyrights, or other forms of intellectual property that you utilise while undertaking your research. Along the same vein, you shouldn’t use any unpublished data, methods, or results without explicit, written permission from the respective owner.

Linked to all of this is the broader issue of plagiarism . Needless to say, if you’re drawing on someone else’s published work, be sure to cite your sources, in the correct format. To make life easier, use a reference manager such as Mendeley or Zotero to ensure that your citations and reference list are perfectly polished.

FAQs: Research Ethics

Research ethics & ethical considertation, what is informed consent.

Informed consent simply means providing your potential participants with all necessary information about the study. This should include information regarding the study’s purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits. This information allows your potential participants to make a voluntary and informed decision about whether to participate.

How should I obtain consent from non-English speaking participants?

What about animals.

When conducting research with animals, ensure you adhere to ethical guidelines for the humane treatment of animals. Again, the exact requirements here will vary between institutions, but typically include minimising pain and distress, using alternatives where possible, and obtaining approval from an animal care and use committee.

What is the role of the ERB or IRB?

An ethics review board (ERB) or institutional review board (IRB) evaluates research proposals to ensure they meet ethical standards. The board reviews study designs, consent forms, and data handling procedures, to protect participants’ welfare and rights.

How can I obtain ethical approval for my project?

This varies between universities, but you will typically need to submit a detailed research proposal to your institution’s ethics committee. This proposal should include your research objectives, methods, and how you plan to address ethical considerations like informed consent, confidentiality, and risk minimisation. You can learn more about how to write a proposal here .

How do I ensure ethical collaboration when working with colleagues?

Collaborative research should be conducted with mutual respect and clear agreements on roles, contributions, and publication credits. Open communication is key to preventing conflicts and misunderstandings. Also, be sure to check whether your university has any specific requirements with regards to collaborative efforts and division of labour. 

How should I address ethical concerns relating to my funding source?

Key takeaways: research ethics 101.

Here’s a quick recap of the key points we’ve covered:

• Research ethics are a set of principles that ensure that your study is conducted responsibly.
• It’s essential that you design your study around these principles, or it simply won’t get approved.
• The four ethics principles we looked at are: respect for persons, beneficence, objectivity and integrity

As mentioned, the exact requirements will vary slightly depending on the institution and country, so be sure to thoroughly review your university’s research ethics policy before you start developing your study.

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Key Topics in Research Ethics

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There are several issues that arise both in the research ethics review process and in the research field itself whose coverage is usually regarded as obligatory. No major reference work could be considered complete without some direct discussion of them. How obtaining consent is conducted and subjects/participants are informed of a research purpose is seen as central to ensuring valid participation. Privacy has grown in importance but as information technology has changed it is harder to maintain. In any case it may run counter to concerns for the safety and security of subjects and participants. The availability of and access to new data forms and technological developments expands the research field immeasurably, further complicating overlaps between private and public spaces. Confidentiality, anonymity, and the potential for deception in research all show how difficult it is to maintain these issues as conceptually distinct. This chapter raises some of the conceptual difficulties in the overlapping and, at times, conflicting application of key principles and values which are discussed at length in Part II of this handbook.

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180 Ethics Topics & Ethical Questions to Debate

Our code of ethics is derived from what we think is right or wrong. On top of that, we have to agree to the moral standards established by the society we live in. Conventional norms generally label theft, murder, or harassment as bad. However, there are many influences that impact our considerations and understanding of ethics.

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that studies moral issues. This article outlines the three different types of ethics and presents a list of compelling ethics topics for essays and research papers, as well as ethical questions to debate.

You don’t know how to write about ethics or which ethical argument topic to choose for your paper? Maybe your assignment deadline is dreadfully looming over you? Our custom writing service is happy to help you craft a fantastic essay on ethics whenever the need arises.

🔝 Top 10 Ethical Topics

• 🧑🤝🧑Types of Ethics
• 🤔 Ethical Issues
• 🖥️ Computer Ethics
• 🧬 Bioethics
• 🚓👮 Criminal Justice
• ⚖️ Ethical Dilemmas

⭐ Top 10 Ethics Topics to Debate

😈 ethical questions to debate, 🔍 references.

• Religious beliefs vs. medical care
• Issues behind unpaid internships
• Toxic environment at the workplace
• The dilemma of reporting an accident
• Should one’s political leanings be private?
• The limits of doctor-patient confidentiality
• Is it ethical to pay children for good grades?
• Ethics at the workplace and discrimination
• Should social media be allowed at the workplace?
• Promotion of environmental responsibility in business

🧑🤝🧑 Types of Ethics

Modern philosophy splits ethics into three groups: metaethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.

• The core question of metaethics is: “What is morality, and where does it come from?” It is also concerned with the emergence of human values, motivation, and reasoning.
• Normative ethics seeks to answer the question, “How should I act?” An example of a normative moral theory is Kant’s Categorical Imperative: Act only according to that maxim whereby you can, at the same time, will that it should become a universal law . In other words: be kind.
• Applied ethics seeks to apply moral considerations into real-life controversial subjects. Its contents can vary greatly and touch bioethics as well as criminal justice. It studies specific actions and practices from the point of moral acceptance.

However, ethics does not end with these three types. Over the centuries, philosophers have proposed various ethical theories. Their four general categories are deontological, utilitarian, right, and virtue ethics.

• A deontologist is a person with a set of moral duties from which they will not adhere. When faced with an ethical conflict, they will always act according to their self-proclaimed obligations.
• For a utilitarian , a decision needs to yield the greatest benefit for the majority.
• If rights are the root of an ethical theory, these are the highest priority. A person’s rights can either be established in a society by law or bestowed from one individual upon another.
• Judging someone by virtue means considering a person’s character rather than their actions. Here, an individual’s reputation, motivation, and ethics play a crucial role.

Now that you know the basics, you have the perfect ground to start your ethics essay.

🤔 Ethical Topics for an Essay

Ethical issues are situations in which an individual needs to evaluate which course of action is morally right. Essays on this topic shine a light on difficult questions. Therefore, students need to defend their position convincingly.

• Discuss what we should do about climate change. 
• What are the moral problems surrounding abortion? 
• Can we still justify eating meat?
• Investigate the use of plastic in the beauty industry.
• Is it unethical to be extremely rich?
• Should you buy Nestlé products despite the fact that the company privatizes water?
• Is the unequal distribution of wealth unethical?
• Discuss how workplace ethics should take sexism into account.
• What can we do to combat racism? 
• Why are LGBT+ people discriminated against?
• Should euthanasia be legal? 
• Can war be ethical?
• Should schools punish students for attending the Fridays for Future protests?
• Would drug use be unethical if it were legal?
• Explain the moral problems that come with automating jobs.

• Is it ethical to hire someone to do assignments for you?
• How far should everyone’s right to privacy go?
• Is using animals for scientific testing unethical?
• How should governments deal with refugees ?
• Discuss the carbon impact of having children.
• Can modern societies still be held accountable for what their nation did in the past?
• Analyze the benefits and disadvantages of universal income.
• How much control should the state have on the press?
• Should schools teach religion?
• What are ethical concerns regarding downloading media from the internet?

🖥️ Computer Ethics Essay Topics

The advent of information technology has altered every aspect of our lives. Computer ethics applies traditional moral theories to everything surrounding computers and cyber security. The list below contains enthralling ethical topics concerned with the realm of computing.

• How much work should we leave entirely to computers?
• Discuss the dangers of storing vulnerable data online.
• Are computers secure enough to contain so much information about our lives?
• Discuss if hacking can be morally justified.
• Examine privacy-related concerns regarding computers .
• Should all software be free?
• How can you legitimize the possession of a computer algorithm patent?
• What can be done to prevent cyberbullying? 
• Investigate the moral effects anonymity has on internet users.
• Whose laws apply if you wish to protect your rights online?
• Discuss how the necessity to own a computer impacts poorer nations and people.
• Which ethical problems can people face due to the internet’s possibilities?
• When is sabotaging another person’s computer justified?
• Analyze the social responsibility that comes with developing new software.
• Are computer crimes less harmful than crimes against humans?
• Who owns information that is distributed online?
• What is more important: easy accessibility or privacy?
• Investigate the moral problems associated with AI.
• If a computer makes a critical mistake, whose fault is it?
• Discuss the importance of netiquette.
• How should tech companies deal with ethical problems?
• Can AI algorithms ensure ethical behavior?
• Why do tech companies need ethics boards?
• Which ethical conflicts appear when using drones?
• Investigate racial bias in facial recognition systems.

🏅 Sports Ethics Topics for a Paper

Morality in sports is based on integrity, respect, responsibility, and fairness. Often, this puts athletes into a dilemma: do I want to be ethical, or do I want to win? Answering these questions is not always easy. The following list compiles sports topics for a research paper on ethics.

• What are moral complications when using enhancement drugs?
• Is gamesmanship unethical?
• How important is ethics in sports?
• Discuss the moral responsibilities of athletes .
• What are ethical reasons to pay college athletes? 
• Investigate the ethical implications of kneeling for the national anthem .
• Can college sports and the principles of higher education go hand in hand?
• Investigate the sexist bias in sports.
• Was it selfish when the American female soccer team went to court to demand equal pay?

• What moral obligations do universities have towards their athletes?
• When can you justify cheating?
• Concerning the environment, how can professional sports events be ethical?
• Which ethical issues do healthcare workers have concerning sportspeople?
• Which moral duties do teams’ coaches have?
• Are the extremely high salaries of sports professionals justified?
• In 2003, the Olympics abolished the wild card system. Was that fair?
• Because of the Paralympics, disabled athletes cannot take part in the real Olympics. Is that discriminatory?
• Discuss how money influences the fairness of a sport.
• Debate if and how children are exploited to become elite athletes.
• Which moral duties should a good sport follow?
• How much should parents get involved in their child’s physical education?
• Investigate if everyday codes of ethics should apply to sports.
• Discuss the ethical implications of motorsports.
• Who is responsible if a player gets injured?
• Are referees always fair?

🧬 Bioethics Topics for an Essay

Bioethics comes into play when we talk about life and health. It expands from genetics to neurology and even plastic surgery. In the name of the common good, researchers often find themselves in conflicting positions. This makes bioethics an especially exciting topic to write about.

• Discuss the moral conflicts of genetic engineering .
• What are the ethical responsibilities associated with using CRISPR ?
• Investigate the problems of stem cell research. 
• When can humans be used for drug testing ?
• Should vaccinations be mandatory for everyone?
• Investigate the ethics that apply to a medical worker.
• Discuss the harmful effects of plastic surgery .
• Should a person who is brain dead be kept alive?
• Is it just that medical care is linked to an individual’s ability to pay?
• Should everyone be an organ donor by default?
• What is more important: a person’s right to privacy or the information of at-risk relatives?
• Is prenatal invasive testing ethical?
• Should neuroenhancement drugs be legal?
• Discuss ethical conflicts concerning Disclosure and Barring Service.
• Is it ethical to improve memory functions with brain stimulation?
• Analyze the ethical issues concerning precision medicine.
• What are the problems of surrogacy ?
• Should medical personnel collect healthy tissues of a deceased person without their consent?

• What should be done with the child of a brain-dead pregnant woman?
• How important is a subject’s anonymity during research?
• Discuss the ethics of shared decision-making .
• How much responsibility do mentally challenged people carry for their actions?
• Was Sweden right not to impose strict lockdown rules during the COVID-19 pandemic?
• To what extent are businesses responsible for their employees’ health?
• Should universal healthcare be free? 

🚓👮 Criminal Justice Ethics Topics to Write About

Law enforcers should always act ethically. Unfortunately, it is not always the case. Police officers and attorneys often end up in morally ambiguous situations. In many cases, they don’t do what the public deems the right thing. Below are the examples of criminal justice ethics topics.

• When is it legitimate for a police officer to use violence?
• How can an officer remain impartial?
• Should law enforcement visibly wear guns in public?
• How much force is too much?
• Investigate possible ethical implications associated with true crime podcasts.
• Should prostitution be legal in the US?
• How ethical is interrogation ?
• Can torture be justified?
• Discuss the ethical consequences of lying when working in criminal justice .
• Is working undercover deception?
• Debate whether it is an American citizen’s moral duty to participate in jury duty.
• Should the police be allowed to access everyone’s data?
• Discuss the moral complications of “innocent until proven guilty.”
• Should convicted pedophiles be allowed to see their children?
• Can teaching ethics at schools prevent crime?
• Analyze ethical problems of the Stanford Prison Experiment.
• Should NATO have become involved in America’s Afghan war?
• What are the ethical implications of shooter drills at school?
• Was Edward Snowden morally in the wrong?
• How should we deal with child soldiers?
• Discuss if the prosecution of Julian Assange is justified.
• Examine the ethical problems of private prisons. 
• What moral obligations should someone consider when granting prisoners the right to work?
• When is capital punishment justified?
• Is it ethical to incarcerate juvenile offenders ?

⚖️ Ethical Dilemma Topics to Write About

An ethical issue becomes a dilemma when different moral standards clash with each other. In this situation, it is impossible to find a path to an ethically permissible solution that is unambiguous. The following sample topics are a solid base to start a discussion on morals.

• Should parents watch over what their children do on the internet?
• Would you report an accident you caused if there are no witnesses?
• What should a doctor do if a patient refuses life-saving treatment for religious reasons?
• Should you turn down a client if their political views do not match yours?
• Would you promote something you are not convinced of to get money?
• Should you lie to land a job that gets you out of poverty?

• Your partner cheated on you. Now, you get the chance to take your revenge with someone you really like. Would you do it?
• Should students use automated writing tools like free thesis generators , summarizers, and paraphrasers?
• Your teacher is continuously mocking your classmate. You are a teacher’s pet. Would you speak up?
• Your son likes to wear dresses. One day, he asks if he can wear one to school. Will you let him?
• You are very religious. Your daughter wants to get married to another woman and invites you to her wedding. What will you do?
• Prenatal testing showed that your unborn child has a disability. Would you terminate pregnancy?
• You are in a long-term relationship. Suddenly, your partner gets a job offer in another part of the world. What would you do?
• You have a terminal illness. This makes you a financial burden to your relatives. Are you obliged towards them to quit your treatment?
• You have a red and a blue candy bar. Blue is your favorite, but you also know that it’s your friend’s favorite. Will you give it to them?
• A friend asked you for a loan. Since then, they have not given you anything back. They are still not wholly stable financially. Will you ask them to return the money?
• Your grandma passed away and bequeathed her favorite mink coat to you. You are a vegan. What do you do?
• A few years ago, you borrowed a gun from a friend. Now, they ask for it back, but their mental state seems to be rapidly deteriorating. This makes you scared they are going to shoot someone, or themselves. What do you do?
• You find out that your friend cheats on their spouse. You are close friends with their family. Will you tell on them?
• For your birthday, your friend gave you a sweater they’ve made themselves. You think it’s ugly. Do you tell them?
• You are a vegan . Should you buy vegan products which are highly problematic to produce?
• You are in a restaurant. Your order arrives too late. The waitress looks stressed. Will you make her take it back?
• You went to the store and bought a new, expensive item. The clerk gives you too much change. Do you give it back?
• You are walking with a friend and find $50 on the floor. Would you share it with them?
• Your child firmly believes in Santa Claus. One Christmas , they start suspecting that he is not real. What do you do?
• Is having pets ethical?
• Can eating meat be justified?
• Should we defund the police?
• Should atomic bombs be banned?
• Can discrimination be justified?
• Is it ethical to ask someone’s age?
• Should children get paid for chores?
• Is it unprofessional to send voice messages?
• Should children be allowed to vote?
• Should influencers promote products they don’t use?
• Should there be any limitations to doctor and patient confidentiality?
• Should physician-assisted suicide be allowed?
• Can teenagers get plastic surgery?
• What to do when you find out that your relative has committed an offense?
• What to do when you see your friend cheating on the exam?
• Should sportsmen be paid more than teachers?
• Should gender quotas be used during parliamentary elections?
• Do companies have the right to collect information about their customers?
• Can politicians appeal to religious issues during electoral campaigns?
• Should fake news be censored in a democratic society?

We hope that in this list you’ve found the ethics topic that fits you the best. Good luck with your assignment!

Further reading:

• 430 Philosophy Topics & Questions for Your Essay
• 226 Research Topics on Criminal Justice & Criminology
• 512 Research Topics on HumSS (Humanities & Social Sciences)
• 204 Research Topics on Technology & Computer Science
• What’s the Difference Between Morality and Ethics?: Britannica
• What is Ethics?: Santa Clara University
• Ethics: Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Metaethics: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
• Ethical Issues: Idaho State University
• The Problem with AI Ethics: The Verge
• Sports Ethics: Santa Clara University
• What Is Bioethics?: Michigan State University
• Ethics in Criminal Justice: Campbellsville University
• Kant’s Formula of Universal Law: Harvard University
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Research Ethics

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• Description
• Aims and Scope
• Editorial Board
• Abstracting / Indexing
• Submission Guidelines

Research Ethics provides a platform for sharing experiences and analysis of ethical issues that are related to the design, conduct, impact and oversight of research. Through open and transparent narrative and analysis of ethical issues in research, it serves to raise awareness, challenge assumptions and help find solutions for complex ethical issues.

Ethical issues are not limited to a specific discipline or type of research. The Editors welcome submissions from any research field (for instance, biomedical, social science, environmental, information technology, or the arts) and a broad range of methodological approaches (for instance, clinical trials, animal experimentation, qualitative studies, laboratory or desk-based research).

Some examples of the topics addressed in Research Ethics include:

• Ethical issues related to the inclusion of vulnerable populations in research
• Ethics dumping
• Benefit sharing
• Ethical issues related to social media research
• Research integrity and research misconduct
• The education and training of researchers and ethics reviewers
• The development and implementation of governance mechanisms

In addition to these applied ethics issues, the journal also welcomes original theoretical papers that contribute to the debate around the normative underpinnings or ethical frameworks for research ethics.

Research Ethics publishes original papers and review articles as well as informative case studies and offers a home for submissions from authors from around the world. The quality of submitted articles is evaluated independently by double-blind peer review. This journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Research Ethics is aimed at readers and authors who are interested in ethical issues associated with the design and conduct of research, the regulation of research, the procedures and process of ethical review and issues related to scientific integrity. The journal aims to promote, inspire, host and engage in open and public debate about research ethics on an international scale and to contribute to the education of researchers and reviewers of research.

Research Ethics offers a home for submissions from authors from around the world and publishes original papers and review articles as well as informative case studies. The quality of submitted articles is evaluated independently by double-blind peer review.

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This Journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics .

Please read the guidelines below then visit the Journal’s submission site  http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/rea  to upload your manuscript. Please note that manuscripts not conforming to these guidelines may be returned.

Only manuscripts of sufficient quality that meet the aims and scope of  Research Ethics  will be reviewed.

All articles published in Research Ethics are published fully open access under a Creative Commons licence and available worldwide, with readers having barrier-free access to the full-text articles immediately upon publication. From 1st January 2024, an article processing charge (APC) is levied on all article types that are published in the journal.

For authors that are currently eligible for an  Open Access Agreement at your institution with Sage , your article will be published at either no direct cost to you or at a deeply discounted rate, depending on the terms of the agreement.

Authors based at institutions in developing countries may also be eligible for an APC waiver, please see our  website page on Gold Open Access Article Processing Charge Waivers  for further information. Please refer to  our page regarding our partnerships around the world  if you would like to know more about the Research4Life initiative.

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• What do we publish? 3.1 Aims & Scope 3.2 Article types 3.3 Writing your paper
• Editorial policies 4.1 Peer review policy 4.2 Authorship 4.3 Acknowledgements 4.4 Declaration of conflicting interests 4.5 Research ethics and patient consent 4.6 Clinical trials
• Publishing policies 5.1 Publication ethics 5.2 Contributor's publishing agreement
• Preparing your manuscript 6.1 Main File 6.2 Title Page 6.3 Formatting 6.4 Language 6.5 Artwork, figures and other graphics 6.6 Supplementary material 6.7 Reference style 6.8 English language editing services
• Submitting your manuscript 7.1 ORCID 7.2 Title, keywords and abstracts 7.3  Information required for completing your submission 7.4  Permissions
• On acceptance and publication 8.1 Sage Production 8.2 Online publication 8.3  Promoting your article
• Further information

1. Open Access

Research Ethics is an open access, peer-reviewed journal. Each article accepted by peer review is made freely available online immediately upon publication, is published under a Creative Commons license and will be hosted online in perpetuity. 

For general information on open access at Sage please visit the Open Access page or view our Open Access FAQs.

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2. Article processing charge (APC)

For authors not eligible for a Sage Open Access Agreement, the article processing charge (APC) is USD $500.

3. What do we publish?

3.1 Aims & Scope

Before submitting your manuscript to Research Ethics , please ensure you have read the  Aims & Scope .

3.2 Article Types

Research Ethics  publishes original articles and review articles as well as informative case studies on the ethical issues associated with the design and conduct of research, the regulation of research, the procedures and process of ethical review, and issues related to scientific integrity. The journal encourages the submission of the following types of manuscripts:

• Original articles: these manuscripts present original empirical content and/or an original theoretical perspective. Submissions that present original empirical content should not exceed 12,000 words (including references). Submissions that present an original theoretical perspective should not exceed 6,000 words (including references). Longer manuscripts may occasionally be considered at the discretion of the Editors.
• Topic Pieces: these articles are intended to form a snapshot of, or perspective on, contemporary thinking on a topic or issue in research ethics or research integrity. Submissions of topic pieces should be no longer than 2,000 words (including references). 
• Case studies: these articles provide examples of real-world ethical challenges in research or research ethics review, as well as real-world case studies in research integrity or research misconduct. Case studies should include ethics analysis of the identified challenges and, where possible, recommendations for dealing with them. Submissions of case studies should be no longer than 3,000 words (including references).
• Review articles: these articles address key issues in research ethics or integrity with a focus on under-researched topics. Rather than introducing new material, review articles offer critical analysis of specific issues in particular areas with significant referencing to existing published literature. Review articles should be between 3,000 and 6,000 words (including references).

3.3 Writing your paper

The Sage Author Gateway has some general advice and on  how to get published , plus links to further resources. Sage Author Services also offers authors a variety of ways to improve and enhance their article including English language editing, plagiarism detection, and video abstract and infographic preparation.

3.3.1 Make your article discoverable

When writing up your paper, think about how you can make it discoverable. The title, keywords and abstract are key to ensuring readers find your article through search engines such as Google. For information and guidance on how best to title your article, write your abstract and select your keywords, have a look at this page on the Gateway: How to Help Readers Find Your Article Online .

4. Editorial policies

4 .1 Peer review policy

Manuscripts submitted for publication in Research Ethics are subject to anonymised peer review.

Submissions are initially reviewed by the editors, who determine whether the submission meets the basic guidelines (e.g. addresses a topic relevant to research ethics or research integrity, is written in English, and is sufficiently understandable). If so, the editors will consult among themselves to determine if the submission, based on its quality, should go on to peer review. Submissions passing this first level of review will be assigned to at least two peer reviewers with the appropriate expertise. The reviewers assess submissions based on scholarly quality, relevance, timeliness, novelty, importance, engagement with the relevant literature, and similar factors. Upon receipt of the peer review responses, the editors will decide whether the manuscript should be rejected, or accepted with or without required revisions.

Research Ethics operates a strictly fully anonymous peer review process in which the reviewer’s name is withheld from the author and, the author’s name from the reviewer. The reviewer may at their own discretion opt to reveal their name to the author in their review, but our standard policy practice is for both identities to remain concealed. The desired turnaround time for manuscripts is a maximum of eight weeks from submission to initial decision. If the manuscript is accepted for publication, the editors reserve the right to make minor adjustments (e.g. grammar, tone) and, if necessary, to shorten the manuscript without changing the meaning.

4.2 Authorship

All parties who have made a substantive contribution to the manuscript should be listed as authors. Principal authorship, authorship order, and other publication credits should be based on the relative scientific or professional contributions of the individuals involved, regardless of their status. A student is usually listed as principal author on any multiple-authored publication that substantially derives from the student’s dissertation or thesis. See also the COPE discussion document on authorship, available here .

Please note that AI chatbots and Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, do not currently satisfy our authorship criteria. Use of any AI chatbot or LLM in helping prepare a manuscript for submission should be clearly indicated in the manuscript, including which model was used and for what purpose. Please use the methods or acknowledgements section, as appropriate. For more information see the  Sage policy on Use of ChatGPT and Generative AI .

4.3 Acknowledgements

Contributors or advisors who do not meet the criteria for authorship can be listed in an Acknowledgements section. Examples of those who might be acknowledged include a person who provided purely technical help, general support or feedback on an early draft. Please ensure that persons who are acknowledged have given permission for mention in the article and upload their confirmation (as supplementary materials) at submission.

4.3.1 Third party submissions

Where an individual who is not listed as an author submits a manuscript on behalf of the author(s), a statement must be included in the Acknowledgements section of the manuscript and in the accompanying cover letter. The statements must:

• Disclose this type of editorial assistance – including the individual’s name, company and level of input
• Identify any entities that paid for this assistance
• Confirm that the listed authors have authorized the submission of their manuscript via third party and approved any statements or declarations, e.g. conflicting interests, funding, etc.

Where appropriate, Sage reserves the right to deny consideration to manuscripts submitted by a third party rather than by the authors themselves .

4.3.2 Writing assistance

Individuals who provided writing assistance, e.g. from a specialist communications company, do not qualify as authors and so should only be included in the Acknowledgements section. Authors must disclose any writing assistance – including the individual’s name, company and level of input – and identify the entity that paid for this assistance.

It is not necessary to disclose use of language polishing services.

4.4 Declaration of conflicting interests

It is the policy of Research Ethics to require a declaration of conflicting interests from all authors enabling a statement to be carried within the paginated pages of all published articles.

The declaration of conflicting interests must be provided at the submission stage in two ways:

• Authors should provide a full statement disclosing the existence of any financial or non-financial interest within the title page and/or cover letter, which is not sent to reviewers, to detail these and to declare any potential conflicts of interest to the editor.
• Authors should provide a minimal statement (either "The authors declare the existence of a financial/non-financial competing interest" OR "The authors declare no competing interests") within the anonymised manuscript. The minimal statement will be shared with peer-reviewers and must not include any information which may enable the disclosure of author identities.

In addition to any declarations in the submission system, all authors are required to include a ‘Declaration of Conflicting Interests’ statement at the end of their published article using one of the following standard sentences:

• The authors declare the following competing interests.
• The authors declare no competing interests.

For guidance on conflict of interest statements, please see Sage’s Publishing Policies and the ICMJE recommendations here .

4.5 Research ethics and patient approvals

It is the policy of Research Ethics to require a declaration about research ethics approval enabling a statement to be carried within the paginated pages of all published articles. To ensure anonymous peer-review, please include these details on the title page of your submission. This should include the name of the ethics committee that approved the study and, where possible, the date of approval and reference number of the application.

Should research ethics approval not be relevant/required for your study/article, please include a statement to this effect at the submission stage, along with any accompanying evidence if possible (e.g. relevant link to policy position of institution or legal framework clarifying ethics approval is not required or expected for the kind of study/article being submitted). The following standard sentence can be used:

• The authors declare that research ethics approval was not required for this study.

4.5.1 Medical research

Medical research involving human participants or data must be conducted according to the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki .

Submitted manuscripts should conform to the ICMJE Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals , and all articles reporting on studies involving human participants must state that the relevant ethics committee provided ethics approval (or waived its requirement). Please ensure that you have provided the full name and institution of the ethics committee, in addition to the approval number and date of approval. Please include these details on the title page of your submission. For research articles, authors are also required to state in the methods section whether participants provided informed consent and whether the consent was written or verbal.

Information on informed consent to report on individual cases or case series should be included in the manuscript text. A statement is required regarding whether written informed consent for patient information and images to be published was provided by the participant(s) or a legally authorized representative.

Please also refer to the ICMJE Recommendations for the Protection of Research Participants

 4.5.2 Non-medical research involving humans and human data

All manuscripts reporting studies with humans or human data, including studies that involve primary collection of personal data such as surveys or interviews, must state the relevant ethics committee provided (or waived) approval.

If ethics approval was obtained, please provide the name(s) of the ethics committee(s)/IRB(s) plus the approval number(s)/ID(s). If the study received exemption from ethics approval, please provide the name(s) of the ethics committee(s)/IRB(s) or other authorized body and the reason for exemption. If ethics approval was not sought for the present study, please specify why it was not required and cite the relevant guidelines or legislation where applicable, for the benefit of an international readership. Please include these details on the title page of your submission.

For empirical research articles, authors are also required to state in the methods section whether participants provided informed consent and whether the consent was written or verbal.

If you are unsure whether ethics approval is required for your study, please refer to this Editorial .

4.5.3 Animal studies

All manuscripts reporting on studies with animals must provide details of the relevant research ethics approval (or waiver). Please include these details on the title page of your submission.

4.6 Clinical trials

Many Sage journals conform to the  ICMJE requirement  that clinical trials are registered in a WHO-approved public trials registry at or before the time of first patient enrolment as a condition of consideration for publication. The trial registry name and URL, and registration number must be included at the end of the abstract.

Further to the above, other Sage journals may consider retrospectively registered trials if the justification for late registration is acceptable, consistent with the  AllTrials campaign . The trial registry name and URL, and registration number must be included at the end of the abstract.

5. Publishing Policies

5.1 Publication ethics

Sage is committed to upholding the integrity of the academic record. We encourage authors to refer to the Committee on Publication Ethics’ International Standards for Authors and view the Publication Ethics page on the Sage Author Gateway .

5.1.1 Plagiarism

Research Ethics and Sage take issues of copyright infringement, plagiarism or other breaches of best practice in publication very seriously. We seek to protect the rights of our authors and we always investigate claims of plagiarism or misuse of published articles. Equally, we seek to protect the reputation of the journal against malpractice. Submitted articles may be checked with duplication-checking software. Where an article, for example, is found to have plagiarised other work or included third-party copyright material without permission or with insufficient acknowledgement, or where the authorship of the article is contested, we reserve the right to take action including, but not limited to: publishing an erratum or corrigendum (correction); retracting the article; taking up the matter with the head of department or dean of the author's institution and/or relevant academic bodies or societies; or taking appropriate legal action.

5.1.2 Prior publication

If material has been previously published it is not generally acceptable for publication in a Sage journal. However, there are certain circumstances where previously published material can be considered for publication. Please refer to the guidance on the Sage Author Gateway or if in doubt, contact the Editor at the address given below.

5.2 Contributor's publishing agreement

Before publication Sage requires the author as the rights holder to sign a Journal Contributor’s Publishing Agreement. Research Ethics publishes manuscripts under Creative Commons licenses . The standard license for the journal is Creative Commons by Attribution Non-Commercial (CC BY-NC), which allows others to re-use the work without permission as long as the work is properly referenced and the use is non-commercial. For more information, you are advised to visit Sage's OA licenses page .

Alternative license arrangements are available, for example, to meet particular funder mandates, made at the author’s request.

6. Preparing your manuscript for submission

You will be asked to upload your anonymised manuscript separately from a title page. Please take note of the requirements for preparation for each of these documents.

6.1 Main file

Your main file is your anonymised manuscript. Please ensure that you do not include any identifiable information in your main manuscript. It will consist of the body of your work plus references. You do not need to include the title or abstract as these will be added during the submission process.

6.2 Title page

Separate from your anonymised manuscript (main file), please also include a separate title page with the following information:

• Name of all the authors with institutional affiliations and contact details
• Ethics approval information
• Conflict of interest information
• Funding information
• Acknowledgements

6.3 Formatting

The preferred format for your manuscript is Word. Files should be submitted in a .doc or .docx file format. Word templates are available on the Manuscript Submission Guidelines page of our Author Gateway. It is preferable that all submissions be typed in sans serif font (e.g. Calibri, Helvetica). Double-spacing is also preferred. Keep formatting simple, and avoid unnecessary advanced word processing features, justification, linked objects, or creating your own symbols.

6.4 Language

All manuscripts must be written in English.

6.4.1 Terminology

Please note that at Research Ethics we actively discourage use of the term ‘research subjects’ when referring to studies that involve human participants. The word ‘subjects’ should only be used when referring to the processing of data (as in ‘data subjects’). As an alternative, please use: humans, persons, participants, research participants or human participants.

6.5 Artwork, figures and other graphics

For guidance on the preparation of illustrations, pictures and graphs in electronic format, please visit Sage’s Manuscript Submission Guidelines .

Figures supplied in colour will appear in colour online.

6.6 Supplementary material

This journal is able to host additional materials online (e.g. datasets, podcasts, videos, images etc) alongside the full-text of the article. For more information please refer to our guidelines on submitting supplementary files .

6.7 Reference style

Research Ethics adheres to the Sage Harvard reference style. View the Sage Harvard guidelines to ensure your manuscript conforms to this reference style.

If you use EndNote to manage references, you can download the Sage Harvard EndNote output file .

6.8 English language editing services

Authors seeking assistance with English language editing, translation, or figure and manuscript formatting to fit the journal’s specifications should consider using Sage Language Services. Visit Sage Language Services on our Journal Author Gateway for further information.

7. Submitting your manuscript

Research Ethics is hosted on Sage Track, a web based online submission and peer review system powered by ScholarOne™ Manuscripts. Visit http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/rea to login and submit your article online.

IMPORTANT: Please check whether you already have an account in the system before trying to create a new one. If you have reviewed or authored for the journal in the past year it is likely that you will have had an account created.  For further guidance on submitting your manuscript online please visit ScholarOne Online Help .

As part of our commitment to ensuring an ethical, transparent and fair peer review process Sage is a supporting member of ORCID, the Open Researcher and Contributor ID . ORCID provides a unique and persistent digital identifier that distinguishes researchers from every other researcher, even those who share the same name, and, through integration in key research workflows such as manuscript and grant submission, supports automated linkages between researchers and their professional activities, ensuring that their work is recognized. 

The collection of ORCID iDs from corresponding authors is now part of the submission process of this journal. If you already have an ORCID iD you will be asked to associate that to your submission during the online submission process. We also strongly encourage all co-authors to link their ORCID iD to their accounts in our online peer review platforms. It takes seconds to do: click the link when prompted, sign into your ORCID account and our systems are automatically updated. Your ORCID iD will become part of your accepted publication’s metadata, making your work attributable to you and only you. Your ORCID iD is published with your article so that fellow researchers reading your work can link to your ORCID profile, and from there link to your other publications.

If you do not already have an ORCID iD please follow this link to create one or visit our ORCID homepage to learn more.

7.2 Title, keywords and abstracts

Please supply a title, an abstract and keywords to accompany your manuscript. The title, keywords and abstract are key to ensuring readers find your article online through online search engines such as Google. Please refer to the information and guidance on how best to title your article, write your abstract and select your keywords by visiting the Sage Journal Author Gateway for guidelines on How to Help Readers Find Your Article Online.

All manuscripts should include up to 6 keywords (in alphabetical order) and an abstract of up to 250 words, which is a condensation of the manuscript that contains a statement of purpose, a description of the content, argument, or analysis, and a concise summary of conclusions.

7.3 Co-authors

You will be asked to provide contact details and affiliations for all co-authors via the submission system and identify who is to be the corresponding author. These details must match what appears on your manuscript.

7.3.1. Ethics approval documentation during manuscript submission

As noted above, for all studies requiring ethics approval, evidence of research ethics approval must be uploaded with your manuscript files during the submission stage. This must show (as a minimum) the name of the ethics committee, the name of the study, the name of the applicant, the ethics approval number/ID, and the date of approval. If an ethics waiver was obtained, please upload evidence of the waiver to include the reason for the waiver.

In your anonymised main manuscript file, please also include a statement (under a Methods section or a separate section on Ethics Approval) whether your study received ethics approval or a waiver, but ensure that any information that could identify the specific institution or committee that provided the approval or waiver is also anonymised, e.g. “This study received ethics approval from [anonymised] on 10 October 2023."

7.4 Permissions

Please also ensure that you have obtained any necessary permission from copyright holders for reproducing any illustrations, tables, figures or lengthy quotations previously published elsewhere. For further information including guidance on fair dealing for criticism and review, please see the Copyright and Permissions page on the Sage Author Gateway .

8. On acceptance and publication

8.1 Sage Production

If your article is accepted, your Sage Production Editor will keep you informed as to your article’s progress throughout the production process. Proofs will be sent by PDF to the corresponding author and should be returned promptly. Authors are reminded to check their proofs carefully to confirm that all author information, including names, affiliations, sequence and contact details are correct, and that Funding and Conflict of Interest statements, if any, are accurate. Please note that if there are any changes to the author list at this stage all authors will be required to complete and sign a form authorising the change.

8.2 Online publication

One of the many benefits of publishing your research in an open access journal is the speed to publication. Your article will be published online in a fully citable form with a DOI number as soon as it has completed the production process. At this time it will be completely free to view and download for all.

8.3 Promoting your article

Publication is not the end of the process! You can help disseminate your paper and ensure it is as widely read and cited as possible. The Sage Author Gateway has numerous resources to help you promote your work. Visit the Promote Your Article  page on the Gateway for tips and advice. 

9. Further information

Any correspondence, queries or additional requests for information on the manuscript submission process should be sent to the Research Ethics editorial office as follows:

The Editors, Research Ethics, [email protected]

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200 Ethical Research Paper Topics For A Universal Morality Boost

Ethics are what make us better people. Researchers play a significant role in the development of a nation’s ethics. You are about to be a researcher as well. That is why our writers, who also offer  paper writing services , have brought many ethical research paper topics for your inspiration.

Table of Contents

What Are The Best Ethical Research Paper Topics For A Great Paper?

Are you looking for some ethical research paper topics for social media ? Or are you doing your research in medicine? We love guiding students like you on  how to write a research paper . That way, we have all the ethical topics you need in the following content.

Ethical Research Paper Topics Related To Social Media

• Educating children to use social media better
• Preparing children against cyberbullying
• Ethics of using social media
• A research analysis on the Facebook data ethics
• Privacy ethics need to be a significant concern on social media platforms
• Use of social media to endorse and preserve human ethics
• The aftermath of COVID-19 has resulted in a social dilemma and economic disruption
• An influential aspect of the pandemic is mental health
• Ethical challenges on the use of Twitter
• The impact of social and territorial inequalities on health
• Social media politics, concerns, and obligations
• Ethical reflection using social media
• Developing a sense of social media ethics in university students
• Ethics of digital business relations: A research focused on Linkedin
• testing and adjustment of privacy and ethical concerns on social media
• Linkedin Ethics and digital business ethics, concerns, and relation
• The ethical issues raised by the pandemic
• Deletion of Donald Trump’s Twitter profile and the role of social media in the American political chaos
• Children and adolescents’ mental health during the pandemic
• Linkedin privacy concerns and business ethics
• Current spirit of social networks: The freedom and friendliness
• How has the portrait of social media changed over the last decade, and why?
• Ethical concerns related to social media censoring in China and Russia
• Role of ethics when you find yourself in a delicate political situation
• Political ethics and their importance on social media
• Privacy dilemma on Facebook and its consequences
• Research on data selling by digital social media platforms
• Ethical concerns of the political side of the Twitter
• Rise of ethical concerns about Twitter after Elon Musk Takeover
• The necessity to integrate social media and make the best use of them
• Organizational ethics and concerns of colleagues communicating through social media
• Role of social media in developing organizational harmony and a sense of ethics
• Freedom and liberty on social media and modern human rights
• Teaching school kids the right way to social media within ethical boundaries
• Studying the term “privacy policy” in the sense of the social network

Ethical Research Paper Topics Related To the Internet

• Ethical issues raised by the Internet in the last decades
• How the Internet has been causing significant concerns related to ethics
• How can education about social ethics can make a safer virtual for everyone
• An analysis of ethical concerns related to the Internet and the results of research
• An ethical and philosophical analysis of the Internet
• The impact of the Internet on humanity’s foundations
• Communication ethics in the age of the technological revolution 
• Using the Internet for social interaction and ethical concerns
• Religious and ethical issues are raised on the Internet in South Asia
• Organizational and social ethics of the Internet
• A research paper on AI ethics: Importance, fears, and opportunities
• The spirit of the information age and hacker ethics
• Privacy concerns on the Internet and the digital revolution
• Human activity is affected by digital ethics in all fields
• Concerns regarding cyber journalism’s ethical standards
• Internet ethics: the defining issue of our time
• A growing number of people are concerned about Internet privacy in their daily lives
• Questions of the 21st century arise from the Internet of Things
• The impact of internet transparency on society
• Incorporating hate speech detection algorithms into the Internet
• The ethical implications of open source software and artificial intelligence
• Why are most people and cultures concerned about digital ethics?
• An ethical approach to hacking and a secure internet
• Internet ethics in developing countries
• Religious hatred on the Internet in South Asian countries
• Solving the problems and concepts of the internet issues 

Ethical Research Paper Topics For Children

• Importance of social ethics
• Training tours and awareness seminars related to social ethics
• Role of ethics in the growth and development of a state
• The impact of ethics on humanity’s foundations
• Teaching ethics to children in school
• Educating children about the importance of social ethics
• Sense of political ethics in children from the very early age
• Ethics in the school time
• Role of teacher’s character in the development of ethics in younger peers
• Importance of social media ethics among children
• Role of ethical understanding among peers in schools 
• Teaching ethics in the light of social sciences
• Humanity and ethics and the importance of vulnerability
• Moral understanding in the children
• Ethical training of teachers in Montessori
• Teaching ethics at early ages for better development of teens
• Ethical dilemmas among youngsters in the digital age
• Ethical understanding between children from different religious backgrounds
• Activities in school to develop ethical habits in students
• Understanding the concept of empathy for the sake of better ethical development
• A research analysis on Educational ethics 
• Ethics in the classroom and a teacher’s responsibility
• Parents must teach children about ethics and responsibility
• Role of ethics and morality in developing harmony among different demographics

Interesting Ethics Research Paper Topics

• Ethics in the age of globalization
• How democracy helps improve ethical understandings of human beings
• Social interaction and ethical concerns in community groups
• Religious and ethical issues in modern society
• Business ethics as the syllabus for MBA students
• Nietzche’s ethics: A modern study
• The ethical hypothesis in a world without religion
• concepts of motivation, internal and external motivation
• Aristotelian ethics compared to those of Plato’s
• Ethical dilemmas in a capitalist society: is socialism the honest answer we are looking for?
• A historical analysis of the socialist ethics in Russia and the Asian States
• The role of literature in the ethical development of the human society
• Ethical concepts found in the books of Albert Camus
• Motivational speakers and ethics
• Ethical understanding of the literature in the modern world
• A dive into the ethical understanding of the modern literature
• Postmodern and ethics in the 21st century
• An analysis of ethical concerns related to social behaviors
• An ethical and philosophical analysis of democracy
• Ethical dilemma in the absence of religion
• Most significant ethical concerns of the postmodern world
• What role does religion play in the ethical foundations of a society
• Greek ethics compared to the modern world society
• Literary ethics and the role of book reading habits for a student’s moral understanding
• Ethical morality: A comparison or contrast with Machiavellian thought

Ethical Research Paper Topics For Thesis

• The ethics of reconstruction and the moral fortune of reconstruction
• An ethical approach to care and empathy
• Importance of business ethics for a successful organization
• An ethics of care and morality of justice based on narratives
• Teaching ethics in relational terms.
• The concepts of ethics are based on desire and alterity.
• How does Aristotle’s ethics affect our lives today?
• Dual moralizing and ethical goals of educational sanctions
• The ethics of mediation and the development of social and ethical harmony during conflicts
• Manage conflicts according to ethical principles
• Putting values into practice in schools
• Disparities in ethical competence in discussion
• Recognizing the problem: The desire for recognition
• The need for ethics in modern society
• The heuristic model of ethics in education
• Is virtue ethics an illusion of intuitive moral knowledge?
• Teachers’ role in improving society through ethical behavior
• The basis of ethics is the demand for love or transference
• Crime scene investigation and criminology ethics
• What is the ethical framework for researchers?
• The ethics of work and the workplace
• The relationship and role of ethics in psychoanalysis
• The ethics of the subject or the question of the subject
• Educating character or cultivating Aristotelian virtues within the republican school
• What role does the Aristotelian ethical model play in modern society?
• Moral communication through active engagement
• Deliberative Competence or Ethics of Discussion
• Do you think the categorical imperative is superegos, sadistic or ethical?
• Competencies in cognitive, discursive, conative, affective, and relational abilities

Ethical Research Paper Topics For Education and Pedagogy

• Analyzing the problem from a psychoanalytic perspective
• Ethical and moral exemplarity: the double face of exemplarity
• A social perspective on ethical problems
• A consideration of the ethical status of right-wing opinions
• A study of the confusion between ethics and deontology
• Rhetoric’s legitimacy as a technique is an ethical question
• The relationship between law and ethics: a comparison and contrast
• Academic philosophy today: a loss of legitimacy and an ethical stance
• Evaluating the moral exemplarity or identification of a person
• Politics and technology in a race to the bottom
• An ethical problem from a philosophical perspective
• The difficulty of ethical gestures
• The ethical concerns of business trends
• A concept of ethical language 
• Ethics concepts that are essential for understanding
• From an educational perspective, looking at ethical studies
• Ethical conflicts in philosophical debates
• Philosophy’s ethical questions and the moral duty to answer them
• Professionals with a sense of responsibility at the crossroads between morality and ethics
• What is the purpose of semantically confusing ethics with morals?
• The ethics of linguistics: a detailed analysis
• Educational influence on civics and morals
• Education in civics and morals with virtue instruction
• The social dimensions of ethical studies
• Analyzing ethical issues in politics
• The role of ethics in managing diversity 
• Concerns of educational institutions and society
• Education within the framework of a shared vision of the common good
• An analysis of the development of language and communication skills
• Practices in teaching that raise ethical concerns

Psychology Ethical Research Paper Topics

• Psychology-related ethical issues
• Psychology of children and ethics
• Psychology of ethics based on Carl Jung’s teachings
• Is it possible to research a subject incapable of giving voluntary consent?
• Moral and ethical considerations in the psychology of learning
• Children progress through different stages of development
• Psychological research involving general audiences: ethical considerations
• An ethical approach to children from the perspective of a psychologist
• A sub-discipline of psychology
• Relationship between psychology and ethics: currents of thought
• The ethical implications of Freud’s work
• Ethical guidance on the debate of who should be saved first?
• A researcher must respect the freedom of a prospective subject
• A guide to ethical research in psychology
• An ethical framework for psychoanalysis
• A fundamental principle of psychological ethics is confidentiality between doctors and patients
• An overview of general psychology related to ethics
• Understanding and relevance for diagnosis and treatment
• Making information more understandable
• Maintaining the confidentiality of research subjects and participants
• An ethical and scientific evaluation of psychological research

Medicine Ethical Research Paper Topics

• Approach to ethical decision-making when stopping food consumption
• Geriatric rehabilitation team ethical reflection
• The ethics of medical care in prison
• Conflicts and issues related to hospital ethics
• Towards a conceptual topology for health ethics
• Importance of teaching medical ethics to nurses
• Nursing education and training in ethical practices
• From consent to pediatric hospital care for young children
• Children in emergencies: ethical reflections
• Caregiver support: a better way to think about it
• An analysis of the daily lives of patients who are dependent on others
• What is the impact of too much activity on geriatric caregivers?
• Medical ethics as the primary part of caregiving training
• Free and informed consent for patients with neurodegenerative disorders
• Caregiver role in end-of-life ethical reflection
• Concerns about the ethical use of biological resources
• Kidney transplant eligibility criteria
• Identification of domestic violence by the attending physician
• Physiotherapy consent and autonomy ambiguity
• Medical terminations: assessing their seriousness
• Patient’s end-of-life ethical encounter
• Importance of medical ethics in life-saving situations
• Adolescent psychiatric care institute challenges

We are optimistic that you already have your breakthrough ethical research paper topics. You are going to ace this paper. If you are still confused,  contact us  at Paper Perk; we’re there to help.

What are some good topics in ethics?

You might want to try these 5 topics in psychology ethics:

What are some examples of ethical research?

Here are some exciting examples of ethical research:

• Rhetoric's legitimacy as a technique is an ethical question

What is a specific research topic about ethics?

What topics are best for research.

There could be a lot of research topics that you can choose from. You can have a look at our 402 research topics as well for general categories.

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Formidable Ethical Research Paper Topics For You!

Students in every course highly seek ethical research paper topics. Why may you ask? It is because every class, or rather, every career requires a particular set of ethical standards.

However, coming across some easy ethical research paper topics may not be that easy after all. Lucky for you, this splendid and reputable post will solve that in a moment.

Before that, how do you write an ethical research paper?

How To Write an Ethical Research Paper (Simply)

The following quick guidelines will give you an overview of how such a paper resembles and what you should do.

• Choose a captivating topic on ethics
• Formulate an outline
• Start writing with a hook introduction
• Proceed on with a descriptive body
• Finish with a momentous conclusion
• Proofread the final copy

Nothing more or less of that, and you will have your perfect ethical research paper. In this post, we will show some great moral issue research paper topics that you can choose from later.

Stay with me now as we explore these great ideas together. Remember to remain hawk-eyed lest you miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

Prerequisite Steps to Choosing a Topic for an Ethics Research Paper

Before arriving at your topic, the following ideas will be useful:

• Have a look at the available materials
• Do critical thinking on the possible ideas
• Choose one out of the many

It is vital to ensure that your topic is original to avoid running into plagiarism claims. Furthermore, a brief problem will attract readers at first sight. The word length of the topic matters. Very great topics are a huge turn off to most readers; therefore, keep it short and to the point.

50 Ethical Issues Topics for a Research Paper

We shall tackle them according to subcategories so that you do not get confused along the way. Here we go then.

Ethical Hacking Research Paper Topics

• Goals of security in ethical hacking
• World’s most significant data breaches
• Viruses and malware to watch out for in 2023
• Assessing an organization’s vulnerability to cyber attacks
• How much time should an organization perform a backup every day?
• A case study of the qualitative risk assessment methods
• Disadvantages of black-box testing
• Does ethical hacking exist?
• How did ethical hacking come to be?
• Ethical hacking: Is it worth it?

Ethical Leadership Research Paper Topics

• Ethical leadership: The barriers to successful leadership
• The place of moral leadership in corrupt countries
• Rethinking ethical leadership in the 21st century
• Impact of Leadership courses on ethical leading
• How a teacher’s ethical behavior impacts students
• Is ethical leadership practiced in universities?
• Ethical leadership and employee relationships
• A case study of companies practicing ethical leadership and their performance
• Leadership lessons from Nelson Mandela: A case study
• A review of the relationship between moral and relational leadership

Ethical Egoism Research Paper Topics

• A comparison between ethical Egoism versus virtue ethics
• Ethical Egoism: A philosophical position
• Crime and Ethical Egoism
• Contrast between Ethical Egoism and Psychological Egoism
• Impact of ethical Egoism in business
• Thoughtful commentary on ethical Egoism
• Ethics and morality compared
• What is Ethical Egoism and What it Is Not
• A study of ethical egoism theories
• Contribution of a song to ethical egoism theory

Controversial Ethical Topics for Research Paper

• Is plastic surgery ethical?
• The impact of capital punishment on primary human rights
• Why genetic cloning is not to be pursued in the future
• Is abortion legal or illegal?
• Is human trafficking justified in any law?
• How safe is animal testing for humans?
• Is genetic cloning interfering with Mother Nature?
• Impact of ethnic adoption on a child’s development
• Are pills doing us more harm than good?
• Is a person justified to take his or her life?

Interesting Ethical Issues Topics for Research Paper

• What is the ethical impact of organ donation?
• The view of Catholicism on homosexuality
• Should we help strangers anywhere whenever we meet them?
• Should there be rich and poor people in the same country?
• Should newspapers and televisions show pictures of caskets?
• Should people leave their contact information at entrances?
• Who is responsible for the moral ethics of children: Parents or teachers?
• Should you report a close family friend involved in crime?
• Are politicians free to make campaigns in church?
• Is assisted suicide not the same as murder?

Ethics focuses on the shades of gray rather than black and white. Students should choose a research topic bearing in mind the implications carefully. The language used in an ethical research paper should also be prudent enough to prevent lawsuits.

Ethics Research Topics Are Here!

Ethical issues are all around us, and we cannot be ignorant of them. However, good ethical topics for a research paper require a keen eye on the student’s part. Haphazardness is not entertained in such an essay as it would amount to gross misconduct.

In case you are stranded with your ethical essay assignment, you could use a hand from our professional writing help services today.

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Ethics Topics for Research Papers: 140+ Ideas

Derived from the Greek word “ethos,” meaning “way of living,” ethics is a branch of philosophy that involves well-founded standards of right and wrong, as well as just and unjust behaviors. By defining concepts such as right, wrong, vice, justice, and crime, ethics examines an individual’s behavior in society.

When writing an ethics research paper, the first step is to come up with an appropriate ethics topic. Framing a research project on ethics requires understanding essential principles like honesty, morals, and integrity, and demonstrating the findings needed to support your hypothesis. This fundamental research can be challenging for many students, particularly those who have chosen complex research topics. Therefore, the first step is brainstorming excellent ethical topics to transform this challenging process into a smooth journey.

With this in mind, we are here to help ease this burden. This blog post compiles over 140+ captivating ethics topics across various disciplines. Each of these topics will assist you in writing a persuasive research paper that will captivate your readers and impress your professors.

Table of Contents

Ethics Comes in a Variety of Forms

Over the centuries, different philosophers have proposed numerous ethical theories. Before diving into the ethical topics that we have categorized, it is crucial to understand the various types of ethics. Ethics can be broadly classified into four branches, as follows:

Descriptive ethics: This branch of ethics deals with the theory that explains the moral norms, attitudes, and practices that societies believe to be right or wrong. It examines how people actually behave and the moral standards they claim to follow.

Normative or prescriptive ethics: The study of “norms” or “principles” that determine what is morally right or wrong and accordingly holds individuals accountable. In simpler terms, this is the study of “ethical actions.” Deontological ethics, virtue ethics, consequentialism, and Nishkam Karmayoga are some examples of normative theories.

Meta-ethics: Meta-ethics studies the nature of ethics as a whole. This branch of ethics analyzes the foundations of our ethical principles and why we use them daily. It involves the investigation of the meaning and justification of moral claims, as well as the nature of moral values and properties.

Applied ethics: This is the most practical branch of ethics. Applied ethics involves the general principles that we apply in our daily lives. This branch deals with the philosophical examination, from a moral standpoint, of specific issues in various fields, such as medicine, business, and the environment.

Selecting the Right Research Topic in Ethics

To create an engaging research paper, the initial step is to select a high-quality research topic that will make your research stand out from the crowd. To score excellent grades, you must develop captivating ethics topics of your choice. Here are a few tips that will help you choose the best option among all the ethics paper topics:

• When framing an ethical research paper, consider choosing a research topic with enough supporting facts, evidence, and details. Avoid any false or fabricated data, as it can ruin the credibility of your paper.
• Select topics involving complex on-going issues or moral quandaries, as they would pique the interest of your professors. Look for topics that are occasionally covered by the media.
• Try to write your research concisely, making it interesting, informative, and relevant. Overly long research is a major turnoff for readers.
• Search for unsolved research paradigms that will allow you to include your opinions and arguments.
• Engage in critical thinking on the best topics. Narrow down some of the best topics that spark your and your readers’ interests and will expand their knowledge.

Identifying the perfect topic that suits all your requirements can be challenging. You can use the tips mentioned above to identify the best topics that meet your needs. However, depending on individual students, this process can still be time-consuming. Instead of brainstorming for hours, delving into research, and writing lengthy research papers , you can seek professional assistance from our research paper writers.

140+ Ethics Topics for Research Papers

Crafting a research paper on ethics can be more challenging than it initially appears. This is because, while most people understand basic ethical values, their interpretations can vary significantly. Ethics is not just about black and white; it delves much deeper into the shades of grey. In this article, our experts from Edumagnate.com have provided you with an extensive list of ethics topics to help jumpstart your research paper. For a better understanding, we recommend reading through each list thoroughly.

Compelling Topics on Ethical Issues

Ethical dilemmas arise when individuals must evaluate whether their actions are morally right. Topics related to such dilemmas often explore complex questions, requiring one to defend their position convincingly. These ethical issues span various fields, including religion, psychology, and sociology. Consequently, incorporating perspectives from these disciplines can help create a unique and insightful research paper.

• Ethical Codes for Sports Refereeing
• Ethical issues in animal research
• The ethical issues with euthanasia
• Ethical Issues in Sports Administration
• Legal Ethics in National and international businesses
• Organizational Ethics and Individual Responsibility
• Understanding sports ethics as a significant tool for accessing moral behavior in sports
• The Ethical Challenges and Controversies of Healthcare Reform
• The Challenge of Terri Schiavo from an ethical perspective
• The Ethical Issues of Pharmaceutical Companies
• Ethical Issues with Abortion
• Sports ethics: use of drugs in sports competition
• Healthcare systems and associated healthcare ethics
• Ethical and cultural issues with group work
• Political and socioeconomic issues amongst different nations
• Religion and Ethics in healthcare provisions
• Ethical Issues and Concerns of a professional sports person
• The ethical side of Motorsports
• The foundation of computer ethics

Since ethics is a branch of philosophy, students can also consider choosing philosophy research topics.

Social Media Business Ethics Topics

To make things easier, our experts have enumerated a list of the most interesting social media business ethics topics for you. These topics are thoroughly reviewed in depth to ensure optimum results for students. Check them out!

• An Introduction to social media ethics
• Is the notion of “controversial fit” on social media ethical?
• Enhancing business performance on social media without eroding business ethics
• The ethical judgment of consumers and controversial advertising avoidance on social media
• Managing ethical responses on social media: effective guidance for business entrepreneurs
• The ethical environment in online communities: information credibility from a social media standpoint
• Employing big data in business organizations and business ethics
• Social media business ethics: a view from the trenches
• Corporate Firing for sharing questionable social media posts: a detailed analysis
• What is the role of social media ethics in achieving responsible business?
• The Influence of social media ethics on Enhancing the effective online presence of Businesses
• The Influence of social media ethics in the ongoing industries
• Social media ethics and Etiquette
• The Impact of social media ethics on Businesses
• The Ethical Issues of Colonizing Mars
• Social media ethics and journalism: a detailed analysis
• The ethical implications of social media: issues and recommendations for entrepreneurs

The Best Bio-Medical Ethics Topics

If you’re interested in bio-medical, then consider choosing a research topic from the following list of suggestions:

• A detailed analysis of the relationship between medical ethics and religious beliefs
• Medical Ethics in Asia versus Europe
• Medical ethics: a detailed analysis
• Ethical Issues in stem cell research and Therapy
• The ethical issues and legal considerations with euthanasia
• Ethical behavioral issues and Problems in Medicine
• A detailed analysis for monitoring the application of idol ethics in medical fields
• The ethical challenges and Considerations for practicing medicine overseas
• Ethical Considerations for the Inclusion of pregnant women as research participants
• How do medical ethics confront religious beliefs?
• Bio-ethics versus medical ethics: a comparative analysis
• Contemporary medical ethics: a research analysis of Iran
• Ethical issues, including bioethics (conduct a case study)
• Principles of bio-medical ethics
• Human testing of drugs: is it ethical?
• Debunking the Ethics of Neuroenhancement
• The imperativeness of medical ethics
• The perception of biomedical ethics
• The Ethics of Development: an integral Approach

Read Also – Interesting biology research topics

Bioethics Research Paper Topics

Bioethics talks about topics related to health, life, genetics, neurology, and even plastic surgery. Research paper topics in bioethics are brilliant topics to write about. The following list is a compilation of 20 bioethics research paper topics that you can consider:

• Ethical conflicts over disclosure and barring services
• Bioethics: Why is philosophy essential for progress?
• Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
• A critical understanding of the ethical responsibilities associated with CRISPR
• Bioethics and stem cell research
• 5 strange and sinister medical procedures from History
• Bioethics and political ideology: The case of active voluntary euthanasia
• Availability of vaccines for everyone: an overview
• The ethics of brain-boosting
• Euthanasia: An Overview and the Jewish Perspective
• The legal and ethical considerations of dealing with a brain-dead person
• A descriptive analysis of Bioethics in Society
• Ethics and genetic engineering—lessons to learn
• Islam and bioethics: Beyond abortion and euthanasia
• Exploring the ethical principles and Practice of plastic surgery
• Pediatric neuroenhancement: ethical, legal, social, and neurodevelopmental implications
• Bioethics, disability, and death: Uncovering cultural bias in the euthanasia debate
• Secular Bioethics and Euthanasia in a democratic public space

Read Also – 200+ Science Research Topics

Medical Ethics Topics to Score Excellent Grades

The list of medical ethics topics below can assist you with some of these amazing medical ethics topics. For a better understanding, consider reading each topic among these recommendations:

• Is physician-assisted suicide legal? Is it ethical?
• The ethical and legal issues with surrogacy
• The Ethical and Medical Implications of Circumcision
• The Ethics of Surrogacy
• The ethics of abortion: Is it ethically right?
• Ethical and policy issues associated with uterine transplants
• Ethical considerations associated with living donations: an overview
• The Ethics of Condemned Prisoner Organ Donation
• Ethical theories and laws associated with medical ethics
• The Ethics of employing human embryos in genetic engineering research
• Medical ethics dilemma: an overview
• The ethical perspectives of the Nightingale pledge
• The ethics of animal research
• Current ethical issues and Challenges in Healthcare
• Religion, beliefs, and medical ethics: an overview
• Bioethics, human rights, and childbirth
• Understanding Morality without ethics

Enthralling Computing Ethics Topics

Technological advancements have revolutionized all facets of human existence. Computer ethics encompass a collection of fundamental principles aimed at addressing concerns associated with the improper use of computers and outlining preventive measures. The list provided below features some of the most compelling ethical research topics in the realm of computer ethics.

• Should ethics boards be required for IT companies?
• Discussing the risks associated with keeping sensitive data online.
• Is hacking a moral act?
• Examine the ethical issues raised by artificial intelligence.
• Exploring computer privacy-related problems and their solutions
• The moral dilemmas associated with drone use
• Evaluating the moral implications of internet users’ Anonymity
• Ethical prevention of cyberbullying: What can be done for a permanent termination?
• Sabotaging others’ computers: how is this ethically wrong?
• Mapping the foundationalist debate in computer ethics
• A method in computer ethics: Towards a multi-level interdisciplinary approach
• Computer ethics: the significance of personal, formal, and informal codes
• Gender and computer ethics
• Reasons, relativity, and Responsibility in computer ethics
• The Ethics of Computing: A Survey of the computing-oriented Literature
• Computer Ethics and moral methodology
• The ethics of online Anonymity or Zuckerberg vs.” Moot.”
• Propose an educational plan for computer ethics and information security

Research Paper Topics in Sports Ethics

Sports ethics extend beyond mere behavior and thought processes, as they are fundamentally rooted in respect, fairness, integrity, and responsibility within the sports arena. Athletes often face dilemmas regarding what actions to take or avoid due to the ethical considerations in sports. Although this subject can be complex, a deep understanding allows for exceptional research on sports ethics. Here are some example topics:

• Sports Ethics: An Anthology
• Ethics in sports
• Performance-enhancing drugs in sport: The ethical issue
• The key components of sports ethics
• The primary moral obligations of athletes
• The imperativeness of ethics in sports
• A detailed analysis of the ethical responsibilities of a sportsperson
• Are professional sporting activities moral in today’s society?
• The Paralympic Games and the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Athletes’ healthcare and ethical Concerns
• Impact of ethical behavior outside the Pitch
• The moral dimensions of Motorsports
• Child exploitation to become elite athletes
• Moral and ethical responsibilities of a sportsperson
• How do people enter the world of professional sports, and what ethical issues do they face?
• Alienation of sports from real life
• How sports and games serve as the primary outlet for human ethics
• Sports ethics and medicine
• The unique ethics of sports medicine

Top-Notch Business Ethics Topics

Your ethics paper topic on business must be engaging and provide a practical solution to the ongoing economic challenges. Here is a compilation of some of the best business ethical topics for research papers. Each topic on this list will allow you to draft an excellent research paper and earn brilliant grades. Read on.

• Roots of business ethics in Psychology
• A Model of business ethics
• A detailed study of the ethical philosophy behind Bitcoin
• The unique connection between business success and personal integrity
• Moral Leadership and Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior
• How closely can managers monitor their employees’ behavior?
• Business ethics and social responsibility education: shifting the worldview
• Ethical behaviors and economic rationality: an overview
• Business ethics and social responsibilities
• Who determines whether private or personal information should be collected?
• The business ethics case of McDonald’s
• Understanding and preventing ethical failures in leadership
• Ethical Dilemmas in Conducting Business
• Moral policing: It’s more business than ideology.
• Data Security Enhancement and Business Ethics
• Perceptions of business ethics: Students vs. business people
• American business culture and ethical norms
• Does business ethics make economic sense?
• Moral Leadership and business ethics
• Business Ethics in Islam: the glaring gap in Practice

Read Also – Business Research Topics

Criminal Justice Research Topics in Ethics

We always hear how law enforcement is made to protect the commoner’s rights. Unfortunately, it is not always the case. These law enforcers sometimes end up in morally ambiguous situations. Now and then, we often hear news about how a fellow police officer exploited a commoner. So, if this topic piques your interest, this list might be helpful for you. Below are some interesting topics in criminal justice ethics.

• The Codes of ethics for criminal justice
• Integrity in the Criminal Justice System
• A detailed analysis of the ethics of criminal justice
• Model affairs and impartial statutory policies.
• Arguments for and against capital punishment
• Discussion on the ethical ramifications of the “innocent until proven guilty” principle
• Examination of the Stanford Prison Experiment’s ethical issues.
• What moral ramifications do school shooter exercises have?
• Discuss if Julian Assange’s prosecution is appropriate.
• Examining the ethical difficulties of privatized prisons
• Imprisonment of young offenders: Is it ethically right?
• Ethics in criminal justice: theory and practices
• Ethical Dilemmas and decisions in criminal justice

Read Also – 150 Advanced Law Research Paper Topics

Environmental Ethics Topics

If you are willing to compare and contrast topics for environmental ethics, you can take ideas from some of the below-given research topics. Read through the entire list, narrow down the best topics, and finally, set your tone to make your point.

• An Introduction to environmental ethics
• The bio-ethical standards of Coca-Cola
• A detailed study of the global warming ethics
• Assessing the US Government’s environmental ethics
• Should companies be held accountable for preserving the environment?
• A deeper look at the EU Administration’s environmental policy and commercial ethics
• Environmental Regulations and business ethics
• A detailed study on the primary environmental and ethical issues in business?
• Ethics of setting up residential structures in sensitive habitats.
• Animal testing in the cosmetic industry
• Recreational environmental ethics: A more detailed examination of the effects of hunting
• Ethical evaluation of initiatives to combat climate change
• Commercial whaling: an ethical analysis
• A detailed evaluation of insider trading: can we call it ethical?
• Is there a moral case for pollution trade-off programmers?
• What do people think about good versus bad ethics?
• Electric vehicles can help rescue the environment.
• Tax evasion and tax avoidance: what exactly is legally right?
• A critical evaluation of the global warming ethics
• Pollution trade-off programs: are they ethically justified?
• Ethical Analysis of climate change mitigation efforts

Read Also – List of 150 Enticing Chemistry Research Topics

Final Thoughts

From the array of ethics topics provided, choose one that captures your interest and aligns with your academic preferences. We hope this list proves insightful for your upcoming research paper. If you ever feel stuck, remember that help is available!

Consider using our paper help service if you’re searching for a topic for your research proposal, thesis , dissertation, or any other academic writing. Our skilled paper helpers can assist you in developing a unique ethics research paper topic. Should you require expert guidance, don’t hesitate to seek outstanding writing assistance at a reasonable price.

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Introduction: What is Research Ethics?

Research Ethics is defined here to be the ethics of the planning, conduct, and reporting of research. This introduction covers what research ethics is, its ethical distinctions, approaches to teaching research ethics, and other resources on this topic.

What is Research Ethics

Why Teach Research Ethics

Animal Subjects

Biosecurity

Collaboration

Conflicts of Interest

Data Management

Human Subjects

Peer Review

Publication

Research Misconduct

Social Responsibility

Stem Cell Research

Whistleblowing

Descriptions of educational settings , including in the classroom, and in research contexts.

Case Studies

Other Discussion Tools

Information about the history and authors of the Resources for Research Ethics Collection

What is Research Ethics?

Research Ethics is defined here to be the ethics of the planning, conduct, and reporting of research. It is clear that research ethics should include:

• Protections of human and animal subjects

However, not all researchers use human or animal subjects, nor are the ethical dimensions of research confined solely to protections for research subjects. Other ethical challenges are rooted in many dimensions of research, including the:

• Collection, use, and interpretation of research data
• Methods for reporting and reviewing research plans or findings
• Relationships among researchers with one another
• Relationships between researchers and those that will be affected by their research
• Means for responding to misunderstandings, disputes, or misconduct
• Options for promoting ethical conduct in research

The domain of research ethics is intended to include nothing less than the fostering of research that protects the interests of the public, the subjects of research, and the researchers themselves.

Ethical Distinctions

In discussing or teaching research ethics, it is important to keep some basic distinctions in mind.

• It is important not to confuse moral claims about how people ought to behave with descriptive claims about how they in fact do behave. From the fact that gift authorship or signing off on un-reviewed data may be "common practice" in some contexts, it doesn't follow that they are morally or professionally justified. Nor is morality to be confused with the moral beliefs or ethical codes that a given group or society holds (how some group thinks people should live). A belief in segregation is not morally justified simply because it is widely held by a group of people or given society. Philosophers term this distinction between prescriptive and descriptive claims the 'is-ought distinction.'  
• A second important distinction is that between morality and the law. The law may or may not conform to the demands of ethics (Kagan, 1998). To take a contemporary example: many believe that the law prohibiting federally funded stem cell research is objectionable on moral (as well as scientific) grounds, i.e., that such research can save lives and prevent much human misery. History is full of examples of bad laws, that is laws now regarded as morally unjustifiable, e.g., the laws of apartheid, laws prohibiting women from voting or inter-racial couples from marrying.  
• It is also helpful to distinguish between two different levels of discussion (or two different kinds of ethical questions): first-order or "ground-level" questions and second-order questions.  
• First-order moral questions concern what we should do. Such questions may be very general or quite specific. One might ask whether the tradition of 'senior' authorship should be defended and preserved or, more generally, what are the principles that should go into deciding the issue of 'senior' authorship. Such questions and the substantive proposals regarding how to answer them belong to the domain of what moral philosophers call 'normative ethics.'  
• Second-order moral questions concern the nature and purpose of morality itself. When someone claims that falsifying data is wrong, what exactly is the standing of this claim? What exactly does the word 'wrong' mean in the conduct of scientific research? And what are we doing when we make claims about right and wrong, scientific integrity and research misconduct? These second-order questions are quite different from the ground-level questions about how to conduct one's private or professional life raised above. They concern the nature of morality rather than its content, i.e., what acts are required, permitted or prohibited. This is the domain of what moral philosophers call 'metaethics' (Kagan, 1998).

Ethical Approaches

Each of these approaches provides moral principles and ways of thinking about the responsibilities, duties and obligations of moral life. Individually and jointly, they can provide practical guidance in ethical decision-making.

• One of the most influential and familiar approaches to ethics is deontological ethics, associated with Immanuel Kant (1742-1804). Deontological ethics hold certain acts as right or wrong in themselves, e.g., promise breaking or lying. So, for example, in the context of research, fraud, plagiarism and misrepresentation are regarded as morally wrong in themselves, not simply because they (tend to) have bad consequences. The deontological approach is generally grounded in a single fundamental principle: Act as you would wish others to act towards you OR always treat persons as an end, never as a means to an end.  
• From such central principles are derived rules or guidelines for what is permitted, required and prohibited. Objections to principle-based or deontological ethics include the difficulty of applying highly general principles to specific cases, e.g.: Does treating persons as ends rule out physician-assisted suicide, or require it? Deontological ethics is generally contrasted to consequentialist ethics (Honderich, 1995).  
• According to consequentialist approaches, the rightness or wrongness of an action depends solely on its consequences. One should act in such a way as to bring about the best state of affairs, where the best state of affairs may be understood in various ways, e.g., as the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people, maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain or maximizing the satisfaction of preferences. A theory such as Utilitarianism (with its roots in the work of Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill) is generally taken as the paradigm example of consequentialism. Objections to consequentialist ethics tend to focus on its willingness to regard individual rights and values as "negotiable." So, for example, most people would regard murder as wrong independently of the fact that killing one person might allow several others to be saved (the infamous sacrifice of an ailing patient to provide organs for several other needy patients). Similarly, widespread moral opinion holds certain values important (integrity, justice) not only because they generally lead to good outcomes, but in and of themselves.
• Virtue ethics focuses on moral character rather than action and behavior considered in isolation. Central to this approach is the question what ought we (as individuals, as scientists, as physicians) to be rather than simply what we ought to do. The emphasis here is on inner states, that is, moral dispositions and habits such as courage or a developed sense of personal integrity. Virtue ethics can be a useful approach in the context of RCR and professional ethics, emphasizing the importance of moral virtues such as compassion, honesty, and respect. This approach has also a great deal to offer in discussions of bioethical issues where a traditional emphasis on rights and abstract principles frequently results in polarized, stalled discussions (e.g., abortion debates contrasting the rights of the mother against the rights of the fetus).  
• The term 'an ethics of care' grows out of the work of Carol Gilligan, whose empirical work in moral psychology claimed to discover a "different voice," a mode of moral thinking distinct from principle-based moral thinking (e.g., the theories of Kant and Mill). An ethics of care stresses compassion and empathetic understanding, virtues Gilligan associated with traditional care-giving roles, especially those of women.  
• This approach differs from traditional moral theories in two important ways. First, it assumes that it is the connections between persons, e.g., lab teams, colleagues, parents and children, student and mentor, not merely the rights and obligations of discrete individuals that matter. The moral world, on this view, is best seen not as the interaction of discrete individuals, each with his or her own interests and rights, but as an interrelated web of obligations and commitment. We interact, much of the time, not as private individuals, but as members of families, couples, institutions, research groups, a given profession and so on. Second, these human relationships, including relationships of dependency, play a crucial role on this account in determining what our moral obligations and responsibilities are. So, for example, individuals have special responsibilities to care for their children, students, patients, and research subjects.  
• An ethics of care is thus particularly useful in discussing human and animal subjects research, issues of informed consent, and the treatment of vulnerable populations such as children, the infirm or the ill.  
• The case study approach begins from real or hypothetical cases. Its objective is to identify the intuitively plausible principles that should be taken into account in resolving the issues at hand. The case study approach then proceeds to critically evaluate those principles. In discussing whistle-blowing, for example, a good starting point is with recent cases of research misconduct, seeking to identify and evaluate principles such as a commitment to the integrity of science, protecting privacy, or avoiding false or unsubstantiated charges. In the context of RCR instruction, case studies provide one of the most interesting and effective approaches to developing sensitivity to ethical issues and to honing ethical decision-making skills.  
• Strictly speaking, casuistry is more properly understood as a method for doing ethics rather than as itself an ethical theory. However, casuistry is not wholly unconnected to ethical theory. The need for a basis upon which to evaluate competing principles, e.g., the importance of the well-being of an individual patient vs. a concern for just allocation of scarce medical resources, makes ethical theory relevant even with case study approaches.  
• Applied ethics is a branch of normative ethics. It deals with practical questions particularly in relation to the professions. Perhaps the best known area of applied ethics is bioethics, which deals with ethical questions arising in medicine and the biological sciences, e.g., questions concerning the application of new areas of technology (stem cells, cloning, genetic screening, nanotechnology, etc.), end of life issues, organ transplants, and just distribution of healthcare. Training in responsible conduct of research or "research ethics" is merely one among various forms of professional ethics that have come to prominence since the 1960s. Worth noting, however, is that concern with professional ethics is not new, as ancient codes such as the Hippocratic Oath and guild standards attest (Singer, 1986).
• Adams D, Pimple KD (2005): Research Misconduct and Crime: Lessons from Criminal Science on Preventing Misconduct and Promoting Integrity. Accountability in Research 12(3):225-240.
• Anderson MS, Horn AS, Risbey KR, Ronning EA, De Vries R, Martinson BC (2007): What Do Mentoring and Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research Have To Do with Scientists' Misbehavior? Findings from a National Survey of NIH-Funded Scientists . Academic Medicine 82(9):853-860.
• Bulger RE, Heitman E (2007): Expanding Responsible Conduct of Research Instruction across the University. Academic Medicine. 82(9):876-878.
• Kalichman MW (2006): Ethics and Science: A 0.1% solution. Issues in Science and Technology 23:34-36.
• Kalichman MW (2007): Responding to Challenges in Educating for the Responsible Conduct of Research, Academic Medicine. 82(9):870-875.
• Kalichman MW, Plemmons DK (2007): Reported Goals for Responsible Conduct of Research Courses. Academic Medicine. 82(9):846-852.
• Kalichman MW (2009): Evidence-based research ethics. The American Journal of Bioethics 9(6&7): 85-87.
• Pimple KD (2002): Six Domains of Research Ethics: A Heuristic Framework for the Responsible Conduct of Research. Science and Engineering Ethics 8(2):191-205.
• Steneck NH (2006): Fostering Integrity in Research: Definitions, Current Knowledge, and Future Directions. Science and Engineering Ethics 12:53-74.
• Steneck NH, Bulger RE (2007): The History, Purpose, and Future of Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research. Academic Medicine. 82(9):829-834.
• Vasgird DR (2007): Prevention over Cure: The Administrative Rationale for Education in the Responsible Conduct of Research. Academic Medicine. 82(9):835-837.
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The Resources for Research Ethics Education site was originally developed and maintained by Dr. Michael Kalichman, Director of the Research Ethics Program at the University of California San Diego. The site was transferred to the Online Ethics Center in 2021 with the permission of the author.

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No. 2055332. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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Ethics Governance System for RRI in Higher Education, Funding and Research Centres

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Seven steps to strengthen research ethics governance

The EU-funded ETHNA System project has devised ethics governance guidelines to help institutions deliver on commitments to responsible research and innovation.

The ETHNA System project delivered a step-by-step guide on how to design ethics governance systems, building on internal resources and leadership, and monitor the system once this is in place. To develop this approach, ETHNA System looked at the latest management practices and tools that are designed to improve integrity, gender perspectives and public engagement in research and higher education, and that are gaining traction. These practices include developing codes of ethics and good practices, setting up ethics committees and implementing an effective means of reporting bad practices. However, there is still a lack of awareness of how these practices can facilitate research ethics governance, as reflected in the notable lack of integration of such methods.

Designing an integrated ethics system

The ETHNA consortium sought to devise an ethical governance system, to help research organisations put such practices in place. “Our aim was to develop an easy-to-use and implementable guide, based on recent advances in European and international research,” explains project coordinator Elsa González-Esteban, from Jaume I University in Spain. To achieve this, the project brought together an interdisciplinary team with expertise in fields including organisational ethics, gender equity theory, public engagement and open access. “During the first year, we shared theoretical and practical sources fundamental to designing an integrated system of research and innovation ethics governance,” says González-Esteban. “We wanted this system to be implementable across different types of organisations, for example those that fund and those that conduct research or innovation.”

Ethical governance system for researchers

This collaborative work resulted in an approach called the ETHNA System . This system involves seven steps, and includes four integrated instruments that are needed to deliver responsible research. These instruments are: a code of ethics and good practices for researchers or people involved in research and innovation (R&I) processes; an ethics committee on R&I; an ethical line (communication channel for involved stakeholders); and a system of performance and monitoring indicators for annual or biannual reporting. The system was piloted at six organisations in Bulgaria, Estonia, Norway, Portugal and Spain. Key insights gleaned from these pilots have been summarised in the project’s Five-year Sustainability Plan , along with an accompanying manual on how to coordinate and train staff.

Making ethical governance a reality

“We were able to develop and publish a number of practical guides and resources for the development of an ethical governance system,” notes González-Esteban. These include a seven-step toolbox , which covers issues such as creating an action plan, establishing monitoring indicators and putting in place an internal communication plan. Three handbooks on stakeholder engagement have also been published, along with a blueprint for institutional change . In addition to the various project resources published, project milestones and examples of the latest research on integrity, open access and public engagement have been made available . “I think that among the project’s results, our Open Access book on ethics and responsible research and innovation in practice also really stands out,” adds González-Esteban. “This is the culmination of over three years of dedicated project work.” González-Esteban and her team believe that the ETHNA System – along with its impressive list of resources – will help to make ethical governance within research institutions far more feasible and implementable.

ETHNA System, research ethics, governance, gender, education

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Reflections on the NeurIPS 2023 Ethics Review Process

Communications Chairs 2024 2023 Conference

By the NeurIPS 2023 Ethics Review Co-Chairs

The NeurIPS 2023 Ethic Review process began with the publication of the Code of Ethics . This step formally codified a foundation for ethics within the conference framework.

The Ethics Guidelines for Reviewers were also updated to reflect incorporation of the Code of Ethics . 

This year, 502 papers (3.77% of all submissions) were flagged for ethics review. This represents an increase in the number of papers flagged last year (474) but a decrease in the overall rate of papers being flagged (from 4.37% in 2022).

In particular, we are heartened that fewer submissions in the Datasets and Benchmarks track were flagged for ethics review, despite the number of submissions more than doubling since last year. We believe that these trends mean that the ethics of ML research is being taken more seriously by the research community.

This year, reviewers in the main track were required to flag at least one specific area for ethics review. Note that papers can be flagged for multiple areas, so the percentages below do not add up to 100%.

Notably, discrimination, bias and fairness concerns have been flagged at nearly triple the rate this year compared to last year; the rate of papers flagged for legal compliance or responsible research practice also doubled.  

This year, we invited everyone contacted for ethics reviews from last year to serve again as ethics reviewers, and also issued an open call for new reviewers . A total of 396 ethics reviewers answered the call.

In addition, we also asked reviewers if they were available as emergency ethics reviewers , to provide missing reviews and reviews for papers flagged for review on short notice. 76 people volunteered as emergency ethics reviewers. 

We are immensely grateful to everyone who answered the call to service, which allowed us to handle the increased workload for ethics reviews, while broadening the community and reducing the average number of reviews per reviewer.

Thank you all for a wonderful and successful ethical review process.

Yours truly,

Jiahao Chen, Lester Mackey, and Cherie Poland NeurIPS 2023 Ethics Review Co-Chairs

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