Procedures and guidelines for case studies

Phil. 133
"Ethics in Science"
Spring 2020

Procedures and Guidelines for Case Study Responses

Over the course of the term, you will explore 3 case studies. After reading the case, you will write an initial response (of approximately 300 words) defending a course of action for the protagonist, participate in a discussion about the case, and then answer some focused questions about the case (the case quiz). Two of the case study responses will be done in class. The third will be done as an assignment outside of class, making use of Canvas for an online discussion of the case.

Here is the procedure you will be using for the case study responses:

Before class:

Read the case and think about it.
Write your initial response to the case, in which you put forward your position on what the protagonist in the case should or should not do and why. Be sure to focus on the reasons you think support the position you're taking..

Optional:

Use Canvas to start discussing the case online with your classmates.

In class:

Turn in your initial response to the case.
Participate in discussion of the case. In this discussion, we will work to identify interested parties, potential consequences of different courses of action, the protagonist's obligations, and the big conflicts between these obligations. (You should think of our discussion as aimed at generating a work-up of the case study something like this.)
At the end of the discussion, write out your answers to a focused set of questions about some aspects of the case (e.g., the interests of particular interested parties, the potential consequences for particular interested parties, the protagonist's specific obligations towards particular interested parties, etc.)

Bebeau's "Developing a Well-Reasoned Response to a Moral Problem in Scientific Research" gives a detailed discussion of the sorts of dimensions you'll want to consider in these cases. In particular, you should keep the following advice in mind:

"When you develop your response, focus on the reasons the protagonist should or should not do something. Do not just pronounce an act as ethical or unethical; tell why you think so. In considering why an action is acceptable or unacceptable, it may be helpful to consider:

Who has a stake in the action?
What might the consequences of the action be?
What obligations might the protagonist have?
What professional norms and values give rise to those obligations?

Note that each problem usually contains two or more issues; you should try to describe all of them." (p. 3)

The case study initial responses will be evaluated based on your clarity and thoroughness in explaining what you think the protagonist should do and the reasons you think this is the best ethical course of action.The case study quizzes will be evaluated based on your clarity and thoroughness in answering questions about:

the ethical issues in the case
parties in the case who have interests
possible consequences of different courses of actions
the relevant moral obligations of the protagonist trying to decide what to do

Your initial case study responses will be worth a possible 5 points each. Your response to focused questions about the case after the discussion will be worth a possible 15 points each.

Note that the first case study response, on Case Study 1, will be done out of class. For this case, the online discussion of the case will be REQUIRED. The discussion will open on Friday, February 21 and will conclude by 11:59 pm on Friday, February 28.

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