Table 2 Responses to questions on the “Code of Conduct for Scientists”
Items on the questionnaire | Answer | Councilors | Junior members | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | % | n | % | |||
Do you know about the existence of the “Code of Conduct for Scientists” formulated by the Science Council of Japan? | Yes | 48 | 25.4 | 12 | 9.8 | <0.01* |
Recognized title but did not know contents | 73 | 38.6 | 37 | 30.3 | ||
No | 68 | 36 | 73 | 59.8 | ||
Where did you receive information about the “Code of Conduct for Scientists” from? (if known) | Homepage of the Japanese Society for Hygiene | 12 | 18.5 | 2 | 13.3 | 0.24 |
Study session at the Japanese Society for Hygiene general meeting | 3 | 3.1 | 2 | 13.3 | ||
Homepage of an academic society other than the Japanese Society for Hygiene | 3 | 4.6 | 0 | 0.0 | ||
Mass media | 13 | 20.0 | 5 | 33.3 | ||
Internet | 16 | 24.6 | 4 | 26.7 | ||
Lecture | 1 | 1.5 | 1 | 6.7 | ||
Other | 18 | 27.7 | 1 | 6.7 | ||
Do you think that the “Code of Conduct for Scientists” is adequately known among members of the JSH? | Yes | 5 | 2.6 | 3 | 2.5 | <0.05* |
No | 145 | 76.3 | 75 | 61.5 | ||
Not sure | 40 | 21.1 | 44 | 36.1 | ||
What do you think is the most effective way to make the “Code of Conduct for Scientists” commonly known among more members of the JSH? | The Society’s homepage | 25 | 13.8 | 11 | 9.1 | 0.29 |
Lectures at general meeting symposia | 38 | 21.0 | 18 | 14.9 | ||
Holding a briefing session at the general meeting | 12 | 6.6 | 10 | 8.3 | ||
Individual emails | 27 | 14.9 | 29 | 24.0 | ||
Individual letters | 25 | 13.8 | 15 | 12.4 | ||
Individual emails and letters | 43 | 23.8 | 33 | 27.3 | ||
Other | 11 | 6.1 | 5 | 4.1 | ||
Are you interested in the “Code of Conduct for Scientists”?
| Yes | 133 | 70 | 83 | 68.6 | <0.05* |
No | 30 | 15.8 | 10 | 8.3 | ||
Not sure | 27 | 14.2 | 28 | 23.1 | ||
What do you think about conducting research ethics education through the JSH? | Approve | 133 | 69.3 | 84 | 68.9 | 0.54 |
Disapprove | 13 | 6.7 | 5 | 4.1 | ||
Not sure | 46 | 24.0 | 33 | 27.0 | ||
Please identify specific methods (for those who approve) | Creating guidelines | 34 | 25.8 | 14 | 17.5 | 0.08 |
Lectures and workshops at Society meetings | 44 | 33.8 | 40 | 50 | ||
The Society’s home page | 10 | 7.6 | 11 | 13.8 | ||
Individual emails | 12 | 9.1 | 5 | 6.3 | ||
Individual letters | 12 | 9.1 | 4 | 5 | ||
Individual emails and letters | 18 | 13.6 | 5 | 6.3 | ||
Other | 2 | 1.5 | 1 | 1.3 | ||
Where do you think judgments on misconduct should be made? | Board of Directors | 20 | 10.6 | 6 | 5.0 | 0.17 |
Ethics Committee | 110 | 58.2 | 83 | 69.2 | ||
Create a new organization within the Japanese Society for Hygiene | 51 | 27 | 26 | 21.7 | ||
Other | 8 | 4.2 | 5 | 4.2 | ||
Do you think that a member of the JSH who has been cited for misconduct should be provided with an opportunity for rebuttal? | Yes | 189 | 98.4 | 115 | 94.3 | <0.05* |
No | 1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.0 | ||
Not sure | 2 | 1.0 | 7 | 5.7 | ||
Is it necessary for the Society to formulate its own “Code of Conduct for Scientists”? | Necessary | 46 | 24.3 | 19 | 15.7 | <0.01* |
Not necessary | 96 | 50.8 | 51 | 42.1 | ||
Not sure | 47 | 24.9 | 51 | 42.1 | ||