Exploring Bioethics - NIH Office of Science Education - National ...

17. Note that identifying the ethical question that needs to beaddressed is the first step in analyzing an issue.It’s not always so easy to identify the ethical question, but students willget better at it over time. Often, there are several ethical questions, andbecause class time is limited, students will be able to focus on only one.18. Ask students whether they have any questions about the case. Forexample, do they want to know whether the medicine is addictive?Write this question on the board, and label it a scientific question.19. Tell students that the next activity will help them think about anddistinguish different types of questions.Activity 2:Identifying Types of QuestionsEstimated Time: 30 minutes; 40 minutes if Round 4 is completedThis activity helps students discover the difference between types of questions.Do not tell them which categories their cards are in until after theyhave completed each round. You should acknowledge that a few questionscan fall into more than one category. If students discover questions thatthey think can be classified in more than one way, have them put those in aspecial pile and be prepared to explain their reasons for doing so.ProcedureRound 1: Ethical vs. Scientific Questions1. Remind students that different types of questions arose in Lisa’scase. Explain that they will now practice distinguishing differenttypes of questions.2. Ask students to form into pairs, and give each pair a set of cardsmade from Master 1.1: What Type of Question? Round 1—Ethicalvs. Scientific. Tell students there are two main types of questionson the cards, but don’t tell them what the types are.3. Ask students to sort the questions into two piles. Remember notto give any more information about the types of questions.4. Ask students within each pair to identify, together, what twotypes of questions they think they have been sorting.5. Call on students to share with the class what two types ofquestions they think they have been sorting.1-10 Exploring Bioethics