Teaching About Ethics and the Process of Science Using Retracted Publications

The use of primary literature in the undergraduate classroom has great potential for improving students’ understanding of the methods of science as well as specific topics required for a given course. However, it is important to teach students that the scientific literature is subject to change as new information accumulates. In this article, we discuss our experience using articles that have been “abandoned” (where their results are no longer accepted due to new evidence) and/or retracted as methods for teaching students about scientific literature in general and specifically about scientific ethics. Being presented with a more accurate picture of primary literature can help students develop an improved understanding of how science is actually practiced and how scientific ideas change over time. By examining retracted articles in which ethical lapses have been uncovered, students are able to develop a more clear understanding of the types of ethical problems that can occur and improve their ability to recognize them. Teaching About Ethics and the Process of Science Using Retracted Publications