Unit Code

FCM6100

Unit Title

Research Ethics and Integrity

Credit Value

0

Staff Contact

Dr Pirashanthie Vivekananda-Schmidt /Dr Francois Guesdon

Department

Research & Innovation Services

Open To

Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health
Year 1
Year 2

Semester Taught

Graduate Year

Teaching Methods

The below sets out the broad framework for the training, within which each Faculty is developing its own tailored content:

Step 1 (Semester 1 of Year 1 ): Introductory Lecture to inspire interest and encourage independent learning; to convey the importance and relevance of the training; to introduce key concepts (Face-to-face lecture or online lecture)

Step 2 (Semester 2 of Year 1): Action Learning Sets (Phase 1) to help PGRs to become reflective practitioners who are discussing the concepts of ethics/integrity actively through consideration of case studies and examples, and then applying these concepts to their own research (Facilitated group discussion sessions involving 6-10 PGRs - face to face or online)

Step 3 (Semester 1 of Year 2): Action Learning Sets (Phase 2) - A progression from Phase 1: PGRs will continue to meet but the sessions will be more student-led (e.g. bringing examples of challenges they have come across in their own research)

Step 4 (On completion of Step 3): Personal Review of Experiences - PGRs complete a self-assessment form about competency in ethical sensitivity and reasoning and in specific topics. PGRs discuss this with their supervisor and add the form to the e-portfolio.

Semester Assessed

Not Applicable

Assessments

There will be no formal assessment - Step 4 of the training involves a self-assessment process, where students will be encouraged through completion of a form to consider what they have learned and what skills they have gained. This will be discussed with the Supervisor and recorded in the student's DDP e-portfolio.

Full Description

Training on research ethics & integrity for all postgraduate research students as part of the Doctoral Development Programme. The training will:

Enhance students ability to critically analyse/reflect upon their own actions and behaviours when conducting research from start to finish, as well as interactions with research participants, supervisors, co-workers etc;

Heighten ethical sensitivity and reasoning, enabling students to plan and prepare for ethical challenges they may face and to be able to manage challenges.

The training will complement and reinforce existing research methods training, and is being developed and delivered by each Faculty individually

Aims Objectives

The key aims of the training are:

1.To encourage PGR students to critically analyse/reflect on their own actions and behaviours in conducting research and in their interactions with research participants, supervisors, co-workers etc;

2.To heighten PGR students' ethical sensitivity and reasoning, enabling them to plan and prepare for challenges they may face and to be able manage challenges in an ethical way (ethical sensitivity is about developing an awareness of the potential consequences of actions and being aware of alternative courses of action, whereas ethical reasoning is about developing a morally defensible argument of pursuing a particular course of action). This includes:

heightening sensitivity of one's own ethical outlook, while also broadening understanding of the cultures and norms that influence the outlooks of others;

heightening sensitivity so that in practice PGR students are able to better plan and prepare for managing ethical challenges and morally grey areas;

heightening sensitivity so that in practice PGR students are able to achieve individual goals in the group context (e.g. in order to be able to do research together effectively there is a need to know how to reconcile the potential tension between research as a collective, supportive enterprise and research as an individualistic/self-centred pursuit).

Learning Outcomes

Through reflecting on/critically analysing their own and others' behaviours and actions students should gain (through application) a range of key skills for research including:

being able to justify and defend the ethical management (design, data collection etc) of their research (e.g. to a viva panel; to an ethics committee);

being able to navigate any legal and regulatory requirements affecting their research;

being an independent learner;

being better prepared to manage challenges in their research;

becoming 'professionally socialised' within their own research discipline and within the Western higher education context.

Students should also gain key transferable skills useful in any career, helping them to become a more rounded individual, including:

analytical and critical thinking;

how to work together effectively;

developing the confidence to help them 'walk the talk' (i.e. sticking to one's principles, being able to make fully informed judgements and take appropriate actions etc.);

being self-aware and knowing when to ask for advice.

Extra Informaion

Although the majority of the DDP is individually tailored, ALL new research students are expected to undertake the research integrity and ethics training module provided by their Faculty, and will be automatically registered. Good research practices are fundamental to good research, and it is essential for every researcher to understand how to conduct their research ethically, and with integrity.