PRIM&R Online Communities Code of Ethics

PRIM&R’s Online Communities bring together members from many different professional backgrounds.  We are excited about the opportunities for collaboration, discussion, learning, and debate that this affords.  PRIM&R prides itself on a commitment to the highest standards of ethics not only in research, but in everything we do.  PRIM&R also respects and values individual and institutional differences in opinion, philosophy, and beliefs.  We therefore expect that our members will adhere to the following "Code of Ethics" when participating in any aspect of PRIM&R’s Online Communities. 

1. The Communities have been established for the purpose of discussing ethical research and related topics.  Please refrain from introducing off-topic posts.
2. Please refrain from discussions that are overtly political.
3. Please do not post copyrighted material without the author’s permission.  Please do not forward the content of posts on these boards without getting the permission of the original author(s).
4. Please do not post spam, ads for products or services, job announcements, or other commercial solicitations.  Posts that include links to other organizations as resources are appropriate.
5. Please do not post with the intent to disrupt the discussion.  Genuine debate of issues is welcome; posting just to “get a rise” out of someone is not. 
6. While it is acceptable to debate or question someone’s ideas, it is not okay to "attack" another member personally.
7. Please keep the conversation professional and courteous.  Do not post anything obscene, offensive, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate.

PRIM&R reserves the right to take action to ensure that participants in our Online Communities adhere to this Code.  PRIM&R staff will monitor all posts and will remove posts that appear to violate the Code of Ethics.  Additional consequences are as follows:

• The first violation of the Code will result in a written warning to the member (via e-mail) and deletion of the post in question.
• The second violation of the Code will result in suspension of the member’s privilege to post in PRIM&R’s Online Communities for 30 days.  The offending post will be deleted and the member will receive a written warning (via e-mail).
• The third time a member violates the Code, his or her privileges to post in PRIM&R’s Online Communities will be permanently revoked.

PRIM&R will make the final determination of whether content or behavior is inappropriate.  This Code of Ethics is subject to change at any time.

Your participation in PRIM&R’s Online Communities signifies your acceptance of this Code of Ethics, and we appreciate your understanding of our need to be so explicit and otherwise formal.  We do not expect any violations, given that ours is a community of individuals whose “business” is ethics, but we must nonetheless reduce to writing the rules for participation in our Online Communities.  Many thanks! 

Questions?
Please contact us via e-mail or telephone at 617.423.4112, ext .216.  Thank you!