Social Impact Analysis Paper
Required Sections of the Social Impact Analysis Paper
Abstract:
This section provides a brief overview of the paper. It identifies the design, product, or concept (DPC) being analyzed. It identifies the more important ethical arguments for and against development or deployment of the DPC. It states your position regarding whether development or deployment of the DPC should continue.
DPC Background:
This section provide a technical description of the design/product/concept (DPC). Explain the technology that enables the DPC. Explain generally how the DPC works. Keep the paper balanced. It is very easy to spend the majority of the paper explaining the technology and not enough time on the ethical issues. In this section include the following: a) Who is responsible or accountable for creating/producing/building it? b) What need is it intended to fill?
Stakeholders:
This section Identifies the direct and indirect stakeholders who might be impacted positively or negatively by deployment of the DPC. Examples of direct stakeholders might be inventors, developers, investors, corporations, stockholders, consumers. Examples of indirect stakeholders might be competitors, individuals, cultural groups, business entities, institutions, governmental agencies, communities, regulatory agencies, etc. These are not exhaustive lists. Be sure to include the following: a) What benefits for stakeholders are anticipated for this DPC
b) What drawbacks for stakeholders are anticipated for this DPC
Ethical Analysis:
This section identifies the most significant ethical issues that need to be resolved as a result of developing or deploying the DPC. Explain why these ethical issues are the most significant.
a) Which of the three ethical theories (utilitarianism, respect for persons, virtue ethics) do you find most useful in dealing with each of these ethical issues? Explain your reasoning in enough detail to demonstrate critical thinking with regard to the mechanics of the approach chosen.
b) What elements of the NSPE Code of Ethics or the Code of Ethics for your discipline are most relevant to the development or deployment of the DPC.
Social Impact Analysis:
a) What knowledge and skills are needed to deploy or implement the DPC?
b) What interdisciplinary perspectives would help identify innovative and non-obvious solutions to issues that might arise in deploying or implementing the DPC?
c) What insights can you articulate, based your culture and other cultures with which you are familiar, to help understand how the DPC might enable better societal outcomes?
Conclusion:
Based on your critical analysis provide well-reasoned arguments why the development or deployment of the DPC should or should not continue.
a) What is the most compelling argument in favor of development or deployment of the DPC
b) What is the most compelling argument against development or deployment of the DPC
c) What is your position on the right thing(s) to do regarding the development or deployment of the DPC?
List of References:
The references cited in your paper must conform to one of the following style guides:
a) CSE (Council of Science Editors) - Biology - Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers
b) Chicago Manual of Style - used in the humanities and social sciences
c) APA (American Psychological Association) - used in the social sciences
d) MLA (Modern Language Association) - used in literature and the humanities
Advice Regarding Originality:
Originality is scored by SafeAssign based on the percent of the text in your paper that is identical to or similar to other published work. References are excluded. A good originality score would be less than 15%. Zero percent would be perfect but very unlikely as there will always be some random text matches. Quoting long sections of text verbatim will significantly lower the originality score. Paraphrasing another author’s text will tend to lower the originality score. Writing your own words and critical thinking increases the originality score. Referencing another author’s ideas that support or refute your critical thinking is neutral or positive and adds depth to your paper.