The aim of this essay is to analyze to what extend quotations in academic articles and/or monographs that solely exist out of secondary and not primary sources are problematic from the perspective of academic ethics in general and business ethics in particular. Despite being an accepted tool in academic writing and research, the excessive use of secondary sources resembles the exploitation of foreign efforts in the procurement and analysis of primary sources. The research method of this essay is based on an extensive literature research to work out central aspects of academic ethics being relevant for the creation of academic articles and monographs as products of scientific communities. Furthermore, different philosophical approaches are consulted to gain a comprehensive understanding of the business ethics approach and its fundamental pillars. The analysis comes to the conclusion, that citations solely from secondary sources and in the absence of a comprehensive confrontation with primary literature harm central values introduced by the European University Institute as the cornerstones of integrity and good scientific practice. From a business ethics point of view, the conduct violates rules of proportion and endangers the beneficiance of (scientific) communities as it represents an act of selfishness to the own self-interest.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Quotations out of secondary sources in academic writing
3 Perspectives on ethics
3.1 General definition and implications
3.2 Academic ethics and virtues
3.3 Business ethics
4 Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay explores the ethical implications of relying exclusively on secondary sources in academic writing. It examines whether such practices, by avoiding direct engagement with primary sources, violate core standards of academic integrity and business ethics, ultimately arguing that this behavior represents a form of intellectual selfishness that undermines the scientific community.
- Academic integrity and the responsibility of the researcher
- Distinction between primary and secondary sources
- Ethical frameworks regarding intellectual honesty and justice
- Business ethics in the context of academic practices and social cooperation
Excerpt from the Book
1 Introduction
Citations from secondary sources have become a common practice in academic writing and research. The have become a tool in order to reach a comprehensive understanding of the relevant literature body and partially guarantee a more objective view on certain topics. Nevertheless, the issues that can accompany citations from secondary sources have recently become a public topic in the context of the withdrawal of Annette Schavan’s doctorate due to plagiarism accusations for false citation of secondary sources. But even cited correctly and in accordance with the applied standards for academic writing, academic articles and/or monographs solely out of secondary are to be considered problematic, as the author solely reproduces ideas, opinions and trains of thoughts of other authors. It implies academically cutting corners as foreign interpretations are used without doubting its fidelity. As the author indirectly exploits foreign knowledge and research efforts, the proceeding can raise the matter of the compatibility with ethical principles that exist in (academic) societies.
Hence, in the following Essay I try to cope with the issue, to what extend quotations in academic articles and/or monographs that solely exist out of secondary and not primary sources are problematic from the perspective of academic ethics in general and business ethics in particular.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Introduces the research problem regarding the exclusive use of secondary sources in academic work and its potential conflict with ethical standards.
2 Quotations out of secondary sources in academic writing: Defines the hierarchy of literature (primary, secondary, tertiary) and discusses the epistemological value of these sources in research.
3 Perspectives on ethics: Provides a theoretical framework for assessing ethical conduct, covering definitions of morality, academic virtues, and the application of business ethics principles.
4 Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, arguing that reliance on secondary sources alone violates rules of proportion and harms the scientific community's integrity.
Keywords
Academic ethics, secondary sources, primary sources, intellectual honesty, business ethics, scientific integrity, academic writing, social cooperation, research standards, plagiarism, accountability, interaction economics, utilitarianism, virtue, justice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this essay?
The essay examines the ethical problems associated with using only secondary sources in academic writing, specifically exploring why this practice is questionable from the viewpoints of academic and business ethics.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The work covers academic integrity, the distinction between primary and secondary research materials, philosophical approaches to ethics, and the role of social cooperation in scientific communities.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to analyze whether relying solely on secondary sources constitutes a violation of ethical standards and academic virtues, potentially harming the scientific community.
Which research methods are employed?
The essay is based on an extensive literature review and the application of philosophical and ethical frameworks to analyze academic conduct.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section defines source types, details ethical guidelines from institutions like the European University Institute, and integrates economic interaction theory to evaluate research behavior.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include academic integrity, secondary sources, intellectual honesty, business ethics, and social cooperation.
How does the author define a "primary source"?
A primary source is defined as the original scientific script, such as books, journals, or theses, representing the actual subject matter of research.
Why does the author consider relying solely on secondary sources as "scientific injustice"?
By exploiting the preparatory work of others to save time and effort, the author argues that the researcher violates rules of proportion and shows a lack of respect for the scientific process and intellectual heritage.
- Quote paper
- Hannes Kahle (Author), 2016, Secondary Sources in Academic Papers. The Perspective of Business Ethics, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/374702
