STP Professional Practice & Ethics 3

Question 1

A trainee scientist discovers that their supervisor has been falsifying data. What is the most appropriate first action?

Accepted Answer

Raise the concern through the institution's research misconduct procedures

Answer

Suspected research misconduct should be raised through the institution's formal procedures, which protect whistleblowers and ensure proper investigation.

Question 2

What does the Caldicott Principles primarily govern in the NHS and healthcare research context?

Accepted Answer

Protection and use of patient-identifiable information

Answer

The Caldicott Principles set out requirements for the appropriate handling, protection, and use of patient-identifiable information.

Question 3

A scientist publishes the same study in two different journals without disclosing prior publication. This is known as:

Accepted Answer

Duplicate publication

Answer

Duplicate publication is submitting the same work to multiple journals without disclosure and is considered a form of research misconduct.

Question 4

Under GDPR, which legal basis is most commonly used for processing health data in clinical research in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Explicit consent or public task with appropriate safeguards

Answer

Health research typically relies on explicit consent or the public task basis, combined with Article 9(2)(j) special category provisions and appropriate safeguards.

Question 5

When is it ethically acceptable to conduct research without obtaining informed consent from participants?

Accepted Answer

In limited circumstances such as emergency research where consent is impossible and an ethics committee has approved a waiver

Answer

Consent waivers may be approved by ethics committees in narrow circumstances, such as emergency research where obtaining consent is impossible and safeguards are in place.

(STP) Scientist Training Programme Practice Test

(STP) Scientist Training Programme Practice Test

STP Professional Practice & Ethics 3