The Values of Computational Modelers and Professional Codes of Ethics: Results from a Field Study

This paper reports results from an analysis of interviews and surveys with computational modelers. The interviews involved asking participants if they felt that modelers should follow a code of ethics. The survey included the Schwartz Value Survey and questions about experiences with and views on codes of ethics. The paper identifies two key themes from the interview data: being faithful to the reality and values of users and that codes of ethics should be developed from the bottom-up. The paper also identifies statistically significant differences between the values of modelers who are aware of and have read existing codes of ethics and who believe that modelers should follow a code of ethics and modelers with contrasting experiences and views, in terms of sixteen basic human values. The study enriches understanding of the complex relationships between codes of ethics and individuals´ values.