A Guide to Professional and Ethical Conduct for Students in Chemistry 2021

Professional and Ethical Conduct for Chemistry Students

Introduction

  • These guidelines inform students of their responsibility to act professionally and ethically, adhering to academic and scientific honesty.
  • They include extracts from official UNSW policy and examples relevant to chemistry students.
  • These principles are expected in both university and future careers, aligning with ethical codes of professional bodies like the American Chemical Society.
  • The American Chemical Society (ACS) Code of Conduct can be found on their website.

Academic Misconduct

  • Students are expected to be familiar with and adhere to University policies on misconduct.
  • The UNSW Current Students web portal offers a guide to plagiarism and how to avoid it.
  • UNSW is committed to excellence in research and education, underpinned by academic and research integrity.
  • Plagiarism involves using others' words or ideas as your own or republishing previously submitted work without referencing it.
  • Buying essay/writing services from third parties constitutes plagiarism.
  • Selling lecture or tutorial notes is not permissible as students do not own the rights to this intellectual property.
Misconduct Examples
  • Failing to acknowledge sources.
  • Quoting without quotation marks, even with source acknowledgment.
  • Expressing significant ideas from a published source in your own words without acknowledgment.
  • Submitting work that is the work of another person.
Penalties for Academic Misconduct
  • Reduction in marks, failure in the course, suspension or exclusion from UNSW, and/or delayed graduation.
  • UNSW maintains a plagiarism register for repeat offenders.

Plagiarism

  • Plagiarism at UNSW means using others' words or ideas and presenting them as your own; it is a type of intellectual theft.
  • It can range from deliberate cheating to accidental copying without acknowledgment.
  • Whenever you use another person's words or ideas, you must acknowledge the source.
Forms of Plagiarism
  • Copying
  • Inappropriate paraphrasing
  • Collusion
  • Relying too much on other people's material
  • Inappropriate citation
  • Self-plagiarism
Details of Plagiarism Forms
  • Copying:
    • Using the same words as the original text without acknowledgment or quotation marks.
    • Putting someone else's ideas into your own words without acknowledging the source.
    • Copying materials, ideas, or concepts from various sources without appropriate acknowledgment.
  • Inappropriate Paraphrasing:
    • Using the exact words of someone else with proper acknowledgment but without quotation marks.
    • Changing a few words while retaining the original structure and ideas without acknowledgment.
    • Paraphrasing another's ideas or words without credit.
  • Collusion:
    • Acting with another person with the intention to deceive; unauthorized collaboration on assessments.
  • Relying Too Much on Other People's Material:
    • Repeated use of long quotations, even with acknowledgment.
    • Using your own ideas but heavily relying on phrases and sentences from someone else without acknowledgment.
    • Piecing together quotes and paraphrases without appropriate referencing.
  • Inappropriate Citation:
    • Citing sources not read without acknowledging the 'secondary' source.
    • 'Padding' reference lists with sources not read or cited.
  • Self-Plagiarism:
    • Republishing your own previously written work as new without referencing the earlier work.
    • 'Recycling', 'duplication', or 'multiple submissions of research findings' without disclosure.
    • Re-using all or parts of work already submitted for assessment without proper citation.

Scenarios Relevant to Laboratory Courses in Chemistry

Scenario 1 – Laboratory Data and Reports
  • The Scenario: Student X makes a mistake preparing standard solutions and doesn't have time to complete the experiment.
  • 3 Different Student Responses:
    • (a) Student X copies another student’s results.
    • (b) Student X consults another student who shares data.
    • (c) Student X consults the demonstrator, who suggests sharing data with acknowledgment.
  • Implications:
    • Copying another student’s data is unacceptable (academic misconduct).
    • Sharing data may be acceptable if:
      • The laboratory course policy allows it.
      • The use of data is clearly acknowledged.
      • Reasons for sharing and potential impact are acknowledged.
    • Consulting the demonstrator is the best approach.
    • Advice might include repeating the experiment or writing a report with incomplete data.
Scenario 2 – Group Laboratory Work
  • The Scenario: Lab work is done in groups, but individual reports are expected.
  • Students arrange for one person to write the report, and others modify and submit it.
  • Implications:
    • Using copies of a report written by someone else is academic misconduct.
    • The person supplying the work is equally guilty.
    • The correct way is for each member to write their own report after discussing results.
    • Consulting each other on processing results, calculations, and interpretation is acceptable.
    • Individual reports must contain each student’s own discussion and conclusions.
    • Clear guidelines should be provided; if in doubt, ask for clarification.
Scenario 3 – Manipulation of Experimental Data
  • The Scenario: A student measures data for a calibration curve, but one point is too high and distorts the calibration.
  • 3 Different Student Responses:
    • (a) The student estimates the 'expected' value and substitutes it.
    • (b) The student leaves out the suspect data point.
    • (c) The student performs statistical tests to justify removing the outlier, recording all data.
  • Implications:
    • (a) and (b) are scientifically unacceptable and dishonest; they conceal a problem with the data.
    • Deleting data that doesn’t ‘look right’ undermines the scientific process.
    • The odd-looking data point might be the only correct one.
    • Ideally, repeat the experiment.
    • Evaluate data as best as possible, within its limitations (action c).
    • Statistical procedures can test outliers.
    • The problem point must never be concealed; it should be investigated.
    • Inventing data is clearly academic misconduct.
    • Seek advice on handling unusual or unexpected experimental outcomes.

Brief Checklist for Submission of Reports or Assignments

Individual Report/Assignment
  • The submission is your own work, except where clearly acknowledged.
  • No sections are copied from another student.
  • All directly quoted material is in quotation marks and fully referenced.
  • All pictures, graphics, or data from a source are fully referenced.
  • All summarized material, information, or ideas are fully referenced.
  • You have not given your report to another student to copy.
  • All experimental data and observations are honestly presented.
  • You have included a signed coversheet.
  • You have kept a copy of the assignment.
Group Report/Assignment – Additional Requirements
  • All contributors to the group work are acknowledged.
  • Any additional guidelines specific to the particular group work are followed.
  • Consult the UNSW Current Students web portal for full UNSW policy.
  • Consult the Current Students website for UNSW guidelines on writing scientific reports.

Guidelines for Literature Reviews and Essays in Chemistry

Scientific Literature Reviews and Essays
  • In advanced courses, students write essays and present literature reviews on chemical topics.
  • An essay highlights and explains key aspects of a topic, allowing selection of important or interesting aspects.
  • It includes facts and the author's views on the subject.
  • A literature review summarizes significant aspects of a subject, focusing on facts and technical data.
  • Conclusions drawn from these are highly important.
  • Literature reviews are essential before research work to find out what is already known.
  • Reviews summarize and clarify achievements, bringing topics to a wider audience.
In Your Own Words
  • Throughout your University career, you'll be reading and using the work of others.
  • Using elements from others' work in your own documents requires understanding copyright.
  • Using someone else’s words or ideas without proper acknowledgment is stealing (plagiarism).
  • Penalties for plagiarism can be severe, including failure and exclusion from the University.
  • Penalties exist not only to punish those who act wrongly but to ensure that honest students' work is valued and rewarded.
What Defines Unacceptable Use of Someone Else’s Work?
  • Plagiarism can take many forms, all equally unacceptable.
  • Direct, unattributed copying from an original source is the most blatant form of plagiarism.
  • Do NOT directly copy ANY text.
  • Even sentences or significant phrases can constitute plagiarism.
  • Include direct quotes in quotation marks with a full reference.
  • An essay of properly attributed quotes may be unsatisfactory due to a lack of original thought.
  • Present work in your own words; do not merely change a few words or rearrange phrases.
Example of Acceptable and Unacceptable Text Usage
  • Original Text: “Asymmetric reactions and processes give rise to two kinds of stereoisomeric products: diastereomers and enantiomers. The physical separation of these isomers with simultaneous analysis of isomer distribution (peak integration) is an excellent way to determine the selectivity of a reaction.”
  • Unacceptable Paraphrase: Asymmetric reactions can produce two kinds of stereoisomers: diastereomers and enantiomers. The selectivity of a reaction can be determined by physical separation of the isomers, with analysis of the isomer distribution using a peak integrator.
  • Acceptable Paraphrase: An asymmetric reaction is one which generates at least one new stereogenic centre, and can therefore produce either enantiomers or diastereoisomers. It is desirable to determine the relative ratios of the isomers produced by the reactions, and one method involves separation – usually using a chromatographic method – followed by determination of the ratio using an electronic integrator.
  • Even Better Solution: An asymmetric reaction is one which generates at least one new stereogenic centre, and can therefore produce either enantiomers or diastereoisomers. It is desirable to determine the relative ratios of the isomers produced by the reactions, and one method involves separation – usually using a chromatographic method – followed by determination of the ratio using an electronic integrator.
Referencing
  • Rewording or paraphrasing does not make facts or opinions your own; you still need to cite the source.
  • Include a list of references and link each reference to the place in the text where it is used.
  • If a reference is used multiple times, list it once in the bibliography and indicate its use in the body of your work.
Citing the Reference in the Body of the Text
  • Bracketed text system: (Baldwin et al., 1976)
  • Parenthetical reference number: (5)
  • Superscript reference number: 5
Figures, Diagrams, Data
  • Use diagrams and figures from literature sources in UNSW Essays and Literature Reviews with due acknowledgment.
  • Copyright permission may be necessary for reproduction in new articles available to the public.
The Reference List
  • Make a judicious choice of references.
  • Follow the style of a reputable Chemistry journal, such as the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Journals
  • Authors’ names, journal name, year of publication, and starting page number.
  • Example: Baldwin, J.E., Cutting, J., Dupont, W., Kruse, L., Silberman, L., and Thomas, R.C., J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1976, 736-738.
Books
  • Authors’ names, book title, volume number, edition number, publisher, publication location, year of publication, and page number(s).
  • Example: Coultate, T.P., “Food The Chemistry of Its Components” 3rd Edition, Royal Society of Chemistry Paperbacks, Cambridge, 1996, pp. 40-43.
Web Sources
  • Assess web documents critically; there is no