Code of Ethics for Certified Analytics Professionals (cont.)
Prepared by the INFORMS Certification Task Force
®
Research Subjects. If a project involves research subjects, including census or survey respondents, an analytics
professional will know and adhere to the appropriate rules for the protection of those human subjects. A professional will
be particularly aware of situations involving vulnerable populations that may be subject to special risks and may not be
able to protect their own interests. This responsibility includes protecting the privacy and confidentiality of research
subjects and data concerning them.
INFORMS and Profession. Analytics professionals will strive for relevance in all analyses. Each study or project should
be based on a competent understanding of the subject-matter issues, appropriate analytical methods, and technical
criteria to justify both the practical relevance of the study and the data to be used. Professionals should guard against the
possibility that a predisposition by investigators or data providers might predetermine the analytic result. Professionals
should remain current in constantly changing analytical methodology, as preferred methods from yesterday may be barely
acceptable today and totally obsolete tomorrow. Professionals should disclose conflicts of interest, financial and
otherwise, and resolve them. Professionals should provide only such expert testimony as they would be willing to have
peer reviewed. A professional should maintain personal responsibility for all work bearing his or her name; avoid
undertaking work or coauthoring publications for which he or she would not want to acknowledge responsibility.
Alleged Misconduct. Certified Analytics Professionals will strive to avoid condoning or appearing to condone careless,
incompetent, or unethical practices. Misconduct broadly includes all professional dishonesty, by commission or omission,
and, within the realm of professional activities and expression, all harmful disrespect for people, unauthorized or illegal
use of their intellectual and physical property, and unjustified detraction from the reputation of others. Professionals will
recognize that differences of opinion and honest error do not constitute misconduct; they warrant discussion, but not
accusation. Questionable scientific practices may or may not constitute misconduct, depending on their nature and the
definition of misconduct used. Professionals will not condone retaliation against or damage to the employability of those
who responsibly call attention to possible scientific error or misconduct.
References.
1. Saul I. Gass, Ethical guidelines and codes in operations research, Omega 37 (2009), 1044-1050.
2. American Statistical Association, Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice, August 7, 1999.
3. U.S. federal regulations regarding human subjects protection are contained in Title 45 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, Chapter 46 (45 CFR 46).