Research Ethics

This course provides doctoral students with an introduction to ethical considerations in research practice and application. Ethical challenges occur whenever systems of values and customs within human groups are implicated. Problems arise when these values and customs are harmed, which may happen if individuals are treated merely as tools to achieve objectives that undermine their cultural or moral frameworks. Similar concerns also emerge when humans exploit other living beings or the environment in ways that cause harm. The nature of ethical issues varies according to the type of research, but they consistently originate from the generation, interpretation, and application of knowledge, whether in a general context or within a particular discipline. 

While the course cannot possibly address every aspect of ethics in research practices and applications, it will focus on the most significant common themes. 

Lectures

(1) Ethical Awareness

Awareness of the rights and interests of others in research practices and activities. When does an issue become ethical?

(2) Ethical Obligations and Responsibilities

Data protection; equal opportunities; discrimination; ; health and safety; animal rights; human rights; offensive publications and displays especially when it comes to cultural, religious and political issues.

(3) The Ability to Assess Ethical Issues

Knowledge of legal obligations and pre-existing rights; conflicting risks and benefits of a particular piece of research; fairness for all participants directly or indirectly involved in the research.

(4) Consent of Others

The need for all participants to be fully informed beforehand of the nature and the purpose of the research; The problems of using the public, other groups of people, children and mentally incapacitated adults as means for research ends.

(5) Confidentiality and Data Protection

The preservation of participants' full confidentiality, anonymity and personal privacy.

(6) The Environment

How far can the environment be used as a means for an end, for example to research for natural resources; to find new medicines; or even in the case of art practices?

(7)Animal Rights

Research causing the suffering of animals.

(8) Research Undertaken in Public Places

Obscenity and public decency; cultural, religious, and political sensitivities.

The balance between academic freedom and civil responsibilities in the community.

(9) Academic Integrity

Honesty between researcher, participant and other interested parties; acknowledgments of the work of others; ownership and intellectual property; protection/registration of materials; transparency of the procedures and outcomes; responsibilities with regard to sponsors; copyrights, rights to publications, disclosures, rewards and other benefits.

(10) Ethical Values

The question of how relative or universal are the ethical values that constrain research practices and applications.

Bibliography:

Deborah R. Barnbaum and Michael Byron (2000) Research Ethics Text and Readings New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Deni Elliott and Judy E. Stern (1997) Research Ethics: A Reader, Institute for the Study of Applied and Professional Ethics at Dartmouth College.

Jacques P. Thiroux and Keith W. Krasemann (2011) Ethics: Theory and Practice,  New Jersey: Prentice Hall .

Sana Loue (2000) Textbook of Research Ethics: Theory and Practice, New York: Springer.

James P. Sterba (2000) Three Challenges to Ethics: Environmentalism, Feminism, and Multiculturalism, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Denis Goulet (1995) Development Ethics: A Guide to Theory and Practice, New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

James P. Sterba (2004) The Triumph of Practice over Theory in Ethics, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Lawrence M. Hinman (2005) Contemporary Moral Issues: Diversity and Consensus, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.                                                                       Immanuel Kant (1993) Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Indianapolis: Hackett.

John Stuart Mill (1993) On Liberty and Utilitarianism, New York: Bantam Classics.