[5] in 6.033 discussion
ethics survey
???@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (???@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Fri Feb 14 15:08:02 1992
Dear 6.033 students:
I was sent this to fill out. It's thought-provoking.
Professor Wing
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OPINION SURVEY ON ETHICS IN COMPUTER SCIENCE
This survey is about ethics in computer science. Results will be posted
on various USENET conferences and a research report will be available.
The purpose of the survey and procedures for guaranteeing the anonymity
of respondents are provided below.
1. Gender: [] Male, [] Female.
2. Age: [] 18-24, [] 25-34, [] 35-44, [] 45-54, [] 55 and over.
3. Nationality:
4. Educational background (specify all degrees and subject of highest
degree):
1. Degree: [] Bachelor, [] Masters, [] Engineer, [] PhD, [] Other:
2. Subject: [] Computer Science, [] Electrical Engineering,
[] Mathematics, [] Economy, [] Social Sciences, [] Other:
5. Current working environment: [] Student, [] Research, [] Education,
[] Private Industry, [] Government or Military, [] Other:
6. Would you agree to work on the development of a strategic defense system
that would serve your country? [] Yes, [] No.
7. Would you agree to work on the development of mass destruction weapons?
[] Yes, [] No.
8. Do you understand (not necessarily agree with) people that do not want
to work for military projects (independent of the project)? [] Yes, [] No
9. Would you agree to work on the development of intelligent systems like
diagnostic programs for steel production plants (assuming that you have
skill for doing so)? [] Yes, [] No.
10.In a hospital an expert system is used for diagnostics. A patient dies
due to an incorrect decision of the expert system. Do you think that the
designer of the system is responsible for this death? [] Completely,
[] Partially, [] Not at all.
11.Do you think computer systems should be allowed to take decisions
without intervenience of humans? [] Yes, [] Yes, if the system is proved
to work correctly, [] Yes, if it has passed a complete series of standar-
dized tests, [] Yes, if the decisions are note vital, [] No, [] No, under
no circumstances.
12.Would you trust a decision of an expert system, e.g. do you trust in the
general ideas driving an expert system? [] Yes, [] To some extend, [] No
13.Would you trust a decision of an expert system if it were designed by a
leading computer scientist? [] Yes, [] No.
14.Would you trust a decision of an expert system which proved fault free
for over a decade? [] Yes, [] No.
15.Should a computer scientist deliver an expert system , where he/she
is not completely sure of its correct functionality? [] Yes, [] Yes,
if the user of the system knows about possible errors in the system,
[] No.
16.Do you think computer scientists (or scientists working in computer
related areas) should adhere to an ethical code (like the ones
developed by the ACM or the IEEE)? [] Yes, [] Only if everyone does,
[] No.
17.Would you like to see a statement about the responsibilities of
"wrong" decisions taken by expert systems or artificial intelligence
programs in those codes? [] Yes, [] No.
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--- END OF SURVEY --- Please mail to: diderich@disuns2.epfl.ch ---
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SURVEY INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES
This is a survey of persons in computer related occupations. The
tabulated results of the survey will be posted on various USENET
conferences, so that you can compare your answers to the sum of all
respondents. If you want to get informed about research results obtained
from this survey, please send me an e-mail saying so, and I will keep you
informed.
You may use a text editor to answer the questions in the survey
itself, or you may provide your answers separately. If you answer
separately, prefix your answers with the question number.
When a survey is received, information that could identify the sender
and the sender' s organization will be immediately deleted. However, if
you wish to return you answers anonymously, there are several options.
You may use a false ID, such as GUEST. Alternatively you may print out
the survey and return it via postal service.
The act of returning this survey means that you have given you consent
to participate in this survey and that you accept the procedures outlined
above to guarantee your anonymity and that of your employer.
This survey is being conducted as part of the "Human, Technic and
Environment" project (STS, Science Technology Society program). The
faculty advisor for this research is Blaise Galland at the `Institut
de Recherche pour l'Environnement Construit', Department of Architecture,
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, P.O.Box 555, CH-1015 Lausanne.
Completed surveys or questions and suggestions about the survey should
be e-mailed to `diderich@disuns2.epfl.ch' or `20550::DIDERICH' if you are
on Hepnet.
Or by regular mail:
Claude G. Diderich
30, Avenue S. Reymondin
CH-1009 Pully (VD)
Switzerland - Europe
