AS TYPICALLY INTERPRETED
It is recognized that an important part of the learning process in any course, and particularly in computer science, derives from thoughtful discussions with teachers, student assistants, and fellow students. Such dialogue is encouraged. However, it is necessary to distinguish carefully between the student who discusses the principles underlying a problem with others, and the student who produces assignments that are merely variations on someone else’s work. It will therefore be understood that all assignments submitted to faculty of the Department of Computer Science are to be the original work of the student submitting the assignment, and should be signed in accordance with the provisions of the Honor Code. Appropriate action will be taken when assignments give evidence that they were derived from the work of others. You are encouraged to periodically review the specifics of the Honor Code as stated in the College Catalogue and elsewhere.
AN HONOR CODE FOR RESEARCH
Nowhere does it say that research is a solitary activity. In fact, you will often (regularly) find yourself collaborating with others throughout your career. Research is no different. If I were to say one thing only: be generous.
Should you acknowledge someone for their contributions to your paper? Probably. Are they a co-author? Possibly. If you did the foundational research, but someone else did the implementation work... how do you credit that? A colleague or research collaborator fudged some data (just a bit!) to make it look better---do you look the other way? Without your housemate, you wouldn't have gotten through the proposal-writing process, because of their constant pressure for you to write and revise... what do we say?
These and many more questions will come up, both this semester and in the future.
I can only point at some resources online, and suggest you read and become familiar with them. By "become familiar," I mean "read them and think hard about what it means to be an ethical researcher." And, if you don't do that, I will say this: if you are ever in a situation where you wonder what you should do, ask someone. Ask a friend, or a colleague, or perhaps a former professor who you trust. You'd rather make the right decision than lose your degree because you made the wrong choice.
RESOURCES
Research ethics and computer science: an unconsummated marriage - paper by David Wright at NCSU published in the proceedings of the ACM SIG for Design of Communication.
Wikipedia on Research Ethics (a number of good references)
What is Ethics in Research, and Why is it Important? - from the NIH
ResearchEthics.ca - a weblog on ethics involving human subjects
Institutional Review Blog - A weblog regarding IRB review of non-biomed research.
