Beyond Falsification, Fabrication, and Plagiarism: Religion and Ethical Thinking Among Scientists in Three National Contexts

ABSTRACT Discussion of ethics among scientists has mainly focused on research ethics related to falsification, fabrication, and plagiarism (FFP). Scientific work goes beyond research, and we know little about the ethical issues involved in the broader range of work that scientists do. In this study, we examine how physicists and biologists in the United States, Mexico, and South Africa say religion and spirituality shape their ethical thinking and stances. In our study, scientists identified FFP as important ethical issues. When asked how religion and spirituality inform ethical thinking and practices, our scientist respondents stressed, however, that religious traditions influence ethical thinking around teaching, mentoring, and relationships with students and fellow scientists as well. Our study complements and expands work on science ethics by expanding the ethical issues with which scientists are concerned and, specifically, asks how religion shapes scientists’ ethical sensibilities beyond data gathering and dissemination.