TABLE 4.

Student Responses to the question of “^a[...]who, if anyone, could potentially be affected by their decision?”

Themes and codes	Number and percentage of cases coded n = 136
Major Theme 1: Identifying Affected Groups—Comments made by the subjects that identify the groups affected by the ethical issue.
Instructor	46 (33.8%)
Home Institution	53 (39.0%)
Classmates	9 (6.6%)
Themselves	36 (26.5%)
Receiving Institution	41 (30.1%)
Other Researchers/Students	96 (70.6%)
Society	38 (27.9%)
Major Theme 2: How They are Affected—Comments made by the subjects that identify the ramifications for the affected groups if the students are not truthful about the ethical issue.
Future Research	41 (30.1%)
Sample Response: “If researchers assume the results to be accurate, their research could be endangered.”
Using Bad Data	47 (34.6%)
Sample Response: “They gave faulty evidence towards the presence of phages, and therefore are affecting everyone that depends on that information being accurate.”
Unaffected	4 (2.9%)
Sample Response: “...it won’t be used in the science, and doesn't harm anyone.”
Reputation	32 (23.5%)
Sample Response: “They would look incompetent, and dishonest.”
Liability	12 (8.8%)
Sample Response: “...face consequences such as possible expulsion from their departments for falsifying their information.”
Health/Wellbeing of Society	14 (10.3%)
Sample Response: “If their phages are selected for medical use, it could be an issue for anyone who needs the phages for whatever medical reason.”

^a The full question reads: “Assume that Ariel and Jordan decide to do nothing. Who, if anyone, could potentially be affected by their decision? List as many individuals/groups that could be affected as you can think of, and briefly explain how each individual/group could be affected”