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Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Course Name: Ethics in Engineering Practice
Assignment - Week 5 Solution
TYPE OF QUESTION: MCQ/MSQ
Number of questions: 10 Total marks: 10 X 1 = 10
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QUESTION 1:
Raghav Jindal, an engineer and a second-year student of Masters in Business Administration at
Loyola School of Business for Change, while doing his MBA dissertation titled “Consumers
preference for organic products in State of Tamilnadu” selected only those points of data after
the process of data collection which supported the relationships he has proposed in the study.
This can be technically summed up as an acute case of:
a) Plagiarism
b) Cooking of data
c) Falsification
d) None of the above
Correct Answer: b
Cooking of data
Reason: When an individual uses only those data points that support the hypothesis that he
or she proposed, it is called as cooking of data. Plagiarism and Falsification are different
concepts. Refer slide 85 of the module.
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QUESTION 2:
Ms. Aprajita, who was called for delivering a special lecture at Zen School of Ethics, Patna to a
special batch of engineers, after entering the classroom, wrote these statements on the board, “It
is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner
but from their regard to their own interests… Yet, although… he intends only his own gain, he is
led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention”. According to
you, she will be teaching the engineers the concept of:
a) Invisible hand metaphor
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b) Tragedy of commons
c) Tragedy of choices
d) No control mechanism
Correct Answer: a
Invisible hand metaphor
Reason: The statement written on board by Ms. Aprajita, “It is not from the benevolence
of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner but from their regard to
their own interests… Yet, although… he intends only his own gain, he is led by an invisible
hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention” captures the essence of
Invisible hand metaphor which was proposed by Adam Smith in 1776 and discussed in the
book, the Wealth of the Nations. Its core context lies in the fact that business persons think
of only their self-interest or benefits.
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QUESTION 3:
Identify the context from the words or phrases or short sentences given below:
Self-realization, understanding oneself as one, other creatures, equal rights to flourish
a) Biocentric equality
b) Bio-focused equality
c) Principle of oneness
d) None of the above
Correct Answer: a
Biocentric equality
Reason: Biocentric equality, which is one of the fundamental values of Deep ecology, the
concept popularised by Norwegian philosopher Arne
Naess follows self-realization and calls for understanding oneself a
one with other creatures in the world and proffers that we cannot regard ourselves as
superior and should accept that all creatures
have equal rights to flourish. Hence, the correce answer is Biocentric equality. Refer slide
37.
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Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
QUESTION 4:
“We tend to be thoughtful about things that we do not own individually and which seem to be in
unlimited supply”. After reading the statement in inverted commas, identify the most viable
answer from the options given below:
a) The statement is correct and it reminds us of the metaphor of Tragedy of commons and
Garret Hardin
b) The statement is correct and it reminds us of the metaphor of Tragedy of commons and
Marx. K
c) The statement is flawed and shares partial coherence with the metaphor of Tragedy of
commons popularized by Garret Hardin
d) None of the above
Correct Answer: c
The statement is flawed and shares partial commerce with the metaphor of Tragedy of commons
popularized by Garret Hardin
Reason: Option a is wrong because because technically as per the meathphor of tragedy of
commons we tend to be thoughtless not thoughtful about things that we do not own
individually and which seem to be in unlimited supply and thus option c is correct which
talks about statement being partially correct. Refer slide 9. Option c is undeniably not
correct as it was not poropsed by Marx K. but Garret Hardin.
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QUESTION 5:
ASCE stands for:
a) American Society of Corporate Engineers
b) American Society of Collective Engineers
c) American Society of Crossover Engineers
d) None of the above
Correct Answer: d
None of the above
Reason: ASCE stands for American Society of Civil Engineers, which is not given as an
option, thus answer is d, None of the above. See Slide 13.
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QUESTION 6:
Ms. Prajakta Shukre, who was the Head of Corporate social responsibility division at Drone
Motors Limited, located in Mumbai, shouted much enthusiastically in the annual meeting that
now is the time “when our organization needs leaders who have the ability to make the
socioeconomic system more harmonious with the environment through environmentally-
friendly products, services and businesses”. According to you, Ms. Shukre captured the essence
of:
a) Environmental Leadership
b) Green Leadership
c) Eco-friendly leadership
d) None of the above
Correct Answer: a
Environmental Leadership
Reason: Refer to slide 21. The words used by Ms. Shukre capture the essence of Environmental
Leadership.
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QUESTION 7:
Out of the below-mentioned statements from S1-S8, which of the TWO statements are not
correct as far as the responsibilities of an author of a research article are concerned?
S1: Reveal any hazards in the conduct of experiments, if any
S2: Report all sources of information properly
S3: Reveal only financial sources of conflict
S4: Refrain from plagiarizing
S5: Use journal space wisely
S6: Providing only limited details about research so that others cannot replicate it as it restricts
originality
S7: Citing previous publications properly
S8: Refraining from doing personal attacks by criticizing others work
a) S1 and S5
b) S2 and S8
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c) S3 and S6
d) S7 and S4
Correct Answer: c
S3 and S6
Reason: It is not just about financial sources of conflict but others as well, and also details
that promote replication in ethical ways can be furnished. There is no condition as regards
it limits orginality. Hence, S3 and S6 are erroneous. Refer slide 103 and 104.
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QUESTION 8:
Humans have indeed become self-centred and they no more believe in the idea of preserving
earth like a living organism. Identify the essence of the statement:
a) The statement marks the rejection of the notion of Gaia Hypothesis
b) The statement marks the rejection of the idea of Eco-equality
c) The statement marks the acceptance of the viewpoint of the Gaia Hypothesis
d) The statement marks the acceptance of the idea of Eco-equality
Correct Answer: a
The statement marks the rejection of notion of Gaia Hypothesis
Reason: Gaia hypothesis talks about preserving earth like aliving organism. Refer slide 43.
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QUESTION 9:
Sharan was given a complete one year by his guide, Dr. Shankar Sharma for completing the
project titled, “Gender bias and Ethics in consumer consumption”. He wasted the majority of the
time, and in the last one month took shortcuts to project the desired results in the study. The
same information somehow reached Mr. Sharma. While taking his viva voice, he verified the
same as Sharan failed in answering many questions relating to the project satisfactorily. It
became quite apparent to Mr. Sharma that Sharan took many shortcuts knowingly to complete
the project which amounts to research misconduct and hence was failed. He was indeed found to
be compromising on major ethical values and standards knowingly. According to you, Sharan
was failed on the ground(s) of _______________.
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a) Recklessness only
b) Cutting corners only
c) Both of the above
d) None of the above
Correct Answer: c
Both of the above
Reason: Sharan had committed both the mistakes of being reckless and cutting corners.
Because he took shortcuts while doing research as well as comprmised on major ethical
values and standards knowingly. Thus anwser is c. See slide 95.
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QUESTION 10:
Below mentioned are the canons prescribed by ASME (American Society of Mechanical
Engineers) Code of Ethics of Engineers presented in form of statements (1-4). Identify the
misquoted one (s):
1. Engineers shall continue their professional development throughout their careers and shall
provide opportunities for the professional development of those engineers under their
supervision.
2. Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, wealth and welfare of the public in the
performance of their professional duties.
3. Engineers shall perform services only in areas of their competence.
4. Engineers shall act in professional matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees, and shall avoid conflicts of interest.
a) Canon 2 is misquoted
b) Canon 3 is misquoted
c) Canon 1 is misquoted
d) None of the above
Correct Answer: a
Canon 2 is misquoted
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Reason: The addition of the word wealth in Canon 2 makes it misquoted. See slide 17.
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