Education of Standards of Research Ethics: The Undeniable Necessity of Higher Education Curricula

Given the importance of research ethics in the process of research and the need for its training in the curriculum, this study aimed to assess attitudes of Ph.D students towards research ethics principals with an emphasis on the importance of research ethics training. This study is an applied and descriptive survey. Population studied in the present study included all Ph.D students in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad studying at the University faculties in the 2010-2011. 186 students from different groups were selected randomly according to the samples formula and completed Sailor's research ethics questionnaire. 1 – Exclude of data analysis component, the average score of students in the general research ethics and other components have found to be in desired level. 2- Female students are in a more appropriate level of research ethics than male students. 3 –There was no significant difference between the three groups of Humanities, Engineering and Experimental in the mean score of research ethics. 4 –There exists a significant difference between students who somehow have been trained about research ethics with other groups who have not been trained. 5 -There is no significant difference between the type of training and the amount of research ethics. 6 -There is a significant difference between the average research ethics scores of students interested in research activities and other students who were not interested. According to the results obtained, it is recommended to pay attention to the training of research ethics in the process of researching in higher education curricula as a neglected aspect of research activities.