Course objectives: The course introduces students and trains them to understand and apply ethical principles in humanities and social science research. It discusses theoretical standards and field practices in
research ethics, making students skillful in addressing ethical challenges, mitigation measures and contingency plans related to empirical research. During the course students will discuss national and international ethical
standards as well as ethical guides and recommendations for research, white papers and research-validated best practice guidelines developed by European research agency. The aim of the course is to equip students with the fundamental
principles of ethics and develop skills in designing ethical strategy that includes assessment of ethical risks and risk management planning related to a particular research project.
Enrolment requirements and/or entry competences required for the course: See general prerequisites. Mandatory courses taken and passed.
Learning outcomes at the level of the programme to which the course contributes:
(1) Apply ethical principles in research and professional work
Expected learning outcomes at the level of the course:
(1) To be able to name and apply fundamental principles of research ethics
(2) To discuss ethical recommendations, directives and professional ethical codes
(3) To name and address ethical issues and develop an ethical strategy
(4) To identify potential ethical risks and develop a risk mitigation plan
Course content (syllabus)
(1) Intro to the course
(2) Key concepts in research ethics
(3) Historical development of research ethics in humanities and social sciences
(4) Professional ethical codes and guidelines
(5) Design of ethical research
(6) Addressing harm and benefit
(7) Addressing potential risks and risk management
(8) Situated ethics
(9) Ethics and/in Crisis
(10) Ethics and self-reflexion
(11) Ethical research with children and vulnerable communities (i.e. adults-at-risk)
(12) Ethics and collaboration
(13) Ethics and familiarity
(14) Ethics and dissemination
(15) Wrap up on research ethics
Format of instruction: Lectures, seminars and workshops, exercises, partial e-learning, independent assignments
Student responsibilities: The course will be delivered through lectures and intensive seminars discussion on weekly assignments. Attendees are expected to work individually and in assigned groups. The course
uses direct instruction teaching methods, as well as discussion and collaborative learning in seminars. The student achievement is assessed by submission of assigned weekly individual tasks and a final submission of a sample
ethical documentation.
Monitoring student work: Class attendance, practical work, project, written exam
