PHDPR9110 Research Ethics Course description

Research ethics consists of recognized values, norms and guidelines that regulate scientific activity. Its purpose is to ensure trust in research processes, to protect research participants, affected parties and the environment, and to safeguard the freedom and legitimacy of scientific research.

In this course, participants are introduced to regulations and guidelines for ethical conduct in research, as well as ethical reasoning strategies and forms of justification. The course enables participants to apply relevant principles and considerations to research planning, collaborations and conduct.

The following learning outcomes are associated with the successful completion of this course:

Knowledge

The candidate

• is familiar with national laws and recognized ethical guidelines that regulate scientific activity.
• is familiar with ethical reasoning strategies and key forms of ethical justification.
• is familiar with research ethical resources available at OsloMet and nationally.

Skills

The candidate

• can apply the principles of research ethics to specific challenges and to the planning and conduct of their own research
• can formulate independent judgments and justifications on a variety of research ethical topics.
• can locate, evaluate and make use of available research ethical resources.

This course combines assigned readings with active participation in four days of teaching.

The topics covered the first day overlap with the general research ethics course offered to all OsloMet employees (“Forskningsetikk felleskurs – OsloMet) and includes national legislation, established ethical guidelines, institutional resources and practical training in handling ethical dilemmas in research

The second day of teaching covers interaction with research participants, informed consent, research collaborations and publication ethics.

The third day covers open science, artificial intelligence, data management practices and trust in research. The final day considers how to deal with research misconduct and related challenges, as well as public dissemination and issues concerning social responsibility.

List of topics:

• The Norwegian system of committees, laws and guidelines
• Responsible conduct and academic freedom
• Authorship
• Informed consent
• Publication ethics
• Artificial intelligence
• Open science
• Social responsibility
• Conflicts of interest
• Research collaboration
• Data management

The topics are covered by lectures with ample room for active participation and by collaborative work in groups. Some group activities will require preparation in advance. More information can be found in the teaching plan for each semester.

This course relies on discussions and mutual learning and active participation in class is a prerequisite. Student attendance of at least 80 % is therefore mandatory to be eligible for examination. The course leader can exempt students from this requirement only under special and individual circumstances. In these cases, extensive reading of the course literature can compensate for the lack of attendance.

Participants who are absent from the requisite class attendance without a valid reason will lose the right to examination.

Mandatory assignments are evaluated as a pass or fail.

Participants will receive 5 ECTS for successful completion of the course. This includes the attendance requirement as well as passing the essay examination. Participants can choose to write about a research ethical topic important for their project or their field of research or alternatively select a topic defined by the course leader.

The essay is to be 4000 words +/- 10% excluding the reference list and must be handed in before the submission deadline.

The essay will be examined by the course leader and is assessed as a pass or fail. If the essay is not passed, students are given another chance to revise their submission on a later agreed upon deadline.

The essay must include a statement on whether and how AI tools have been used in the writing process.

The essay examination is based on the descriptions of the course’s learning outcomes.

It is not possible to request an extension of the submission deadline. Exceptions are only made in cases of documented sick leave. The deadline for submission will then be postponed based on the documented period of sick leave.

Support materials for assessment/examination

All

Right to appeal

Students may appeal their grade and formal errors in accordance with the Act relating to universities and university colleges and Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University.

This course is primarily for candidates enrolled in a PhD program at OsloMet.

Pending availability, other applicants with a master’s degree or equivalent (120 ECTS) will be considered for admission.

Admission requirements

A master’s degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent.

All applicants must submit a one-page (A4) summary of their PhD project by the application deadline to be considered for admission.