Moral distress is experienced when one knows the right thing to do, but cannot do it because of institutional or external constraints. This study aimed to understand the extent to which moral distress affects a school leader's role, and the key sources of moral distress. Using a web-based survey (n = 954) and focus groups including school leaders,…

Many educators are also academic researchers and activists. This diversity can enrich our lives in important ways, allowing us to experience distinct domains of life and apply insights across them. Nevertheless, the responsibilities connected to these roles sometimes conflict in ways that undermine the meaningfulness of an educator's life by…

Every research institution employs administrative staff who support the research community on a daily basis. Whether in a central office, department, clinic or laboratory, these people may not be aware of the important role they play in safe-guarding the integrity of the research enterprise. Frequently, research administrators are forced to face…

This article considers the experiences and perceptions of practising English headteachers and the tensions that they face when juggling government prescription and government initiatives, which may be antagonistic to their educational values and beliefs. Managerial control over teachers work has been particularly acute and destructive to…

Ethical, Legal and Social Implications ("ELSI") research has played an increasingly important role in scientific research. Tens of millions of dollars, many of which are public, are spent funding scientific research projects. Taxpayers are demanding that scientific advancement move forward, hand-in-hand with careful examination of the many ethical…

In this article, the author takes a look at how reflective and courageous practitioners show their critical and constructive thinking for handling the intellectual and interpersonal complexities of ethical analysis. The author also discusses six lessons practitioners need to learn.

Ethical issues in adult education are often open-ended, complex, problematic situations. The real question is not which side is right, or to which moral choice principle practitioners must appeal, but simply how they can engage those situations intelligently and constructively. In this article, the author proposes a "meta-ethical reorientation,"…

"Fairness" and "justice" are, according to Gallie (1964), essentially contested concepts--concepts for which there are common understandings in the abstract, but disagreements over the application of these concepts to specific instances. Contested terms are often critical in ethical dilemmas--those times when practitioners are…

This paper presents an introduction to higher education models of ethical orientation and a series of exercises that were part of a workshop on ethics given by the Small Business Institute Directors' Association (SBIDA). Three models of ethical orientation include a self-interest orientation, with the professor solely concerned with his…

A study used Carol Gilligan's work on the legitimization of the female voice to examine the degree to which care and justice perspectives are expressed in the voice of television character "Murphy Brown" in the situation comedy of the same name. Two episodes of the show were analyzed to examine how Murphy resolved moral dilemmas.…

The interaction of Harvard University scholars with outside institutions is examined, as is the need for the university to monitor and regulate these outside activities. Harvard scholars were found to maintain 38 directorships with Fortune 500 companies, 60 ties to the biotechnology industry, over 500 contacts between faculty at the Business…

Reviews the ethical issues related to involuntary psychiatric treatment, including the conflicts between the principles of beneficence, autonomy, and nonmaleficence with regard to involuntary treatment for the patient's interests versus those of society. Describes moral problems as centering around disagreements regarding the patient's…

Reviews the status of academic-industry relationships (AIRs) in the life sciences from both ethical and empirical perspectives, identifying ethical issues that have been resolved and those that must still be debated. Concludes that more research is needed on both the positive and negative effects of AIRs, especially in the development of better…

Included in this annotated bibliography of 11 publications are reports asserting that ethical values are an integral part of school leadership and must not be neglected in the pursuit of academic excellence. Subsequent reports suggest that adequate moral socialization should be demonstrated by school administrators, focus on the ethical principles…

Discussion of conflicts arising within the professional responsibility/conduct of college faculty focuses on problems associated with use of norms to guide behavior. It is suggested that dissenting conduct is a central professional norm for academics, closely connected to the university's purpose, and that academic freedom provides a defense of…