PHBA8100 Research ethics and professional standards Course description

General admission requirements for the Ph.D. Degree in Behavior Analysis

Students will be able to:

• describe and discuss the values and rules of behavior analysis through primary and secondary source writings on ethics and professional issues (e.g., submitting or reviewing original research)
• describe and discuss professional codes of conduct relevant to specific fields of work in behavior analysis
• describe and discuss the application of these value systems and professional codes to their own clinical, educational, and research activities
• follow the guidelines set down in the APA Publication Manual when publishing scientific work and when participating in public discussions
• exhibit honesty, objectivity, integrity, carefulness, openness, respect for intellectual property, confidentiality, responsible publication, responsible mentoring, respect for colleagues, social responsibility, non-discrimination, competence, legality, animal care (if relevant), and human subjects protection
• describe and discuss institutional review board processes and human subjects research guidelines
• describe and discuss the logic and ethical application of single-subject and traditional group designs

All

This course covers research into key phenomena originating from human experience of health and illness. Such phenomena can be perceptions of quality of life, hope, coping, pain, body, dignity, and suffering, and serve as the basis for developing concepts and theories in the health sciences. The course covers different methods for concept and theory development; for example, the hybrid model of concept development, semantic concept analysis, Walker and Avant's model for theory development, and grounded theory. The methods are applied to selected phenomena, concepts, and theories.

None

On completion of the course, the PhD candidate has achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The PhD candidate:

• is at the forefront of knowledge of methodologies related to the development of concepts and theories
• has an in-depth understanding of the relationship between human experience, concepts, and theories in a health science context

Skills

The PhD candidate can:

• develop a conceptual and/or theoretical framework related to his or her own research
• identify relevant clinical phenomena in order to develop concepts and theories
• analyse and interpret research findings related to concept and theory development
• address complex scientific issues and challenge established knowledge and practice in concept and theory development

General competence

The PhD candidate can:

• argue in favour of particular methodologies in concept and theory development on the basis of scientific theory
• participate in discussions on concept and theory development

Work and teaching methods consist of lectures, seminars, and self-study. The outcomes of the seminars are presented and discussed in plenary sessions.

None

Candidates must write an essay based on a concept and/or theory of their choice and apply principles from the methods of concept and theory development presented in the course. The essay must consist of up to 5,000 words and must be submitted no more than 2 weeks after the end of the course.

Pass / Fail