During the data collection there might be challenges about transparency, subjects who (threaten to) drop out, data storage. While analysing data, you’re always confronted with outliers and it might be that you discover something interesting about a single item or one factor that has significance if reported about separately, but not within the large database. And what if one of your outcomes challenges the results of your supervisor, or if it has a negative outcome for the company who’s paying for your research, the institute in which you’re conducting your research, or the groups among which you conduct your research? Finally, in writing and publishing the paper, the question arises who should be on the list of authors. And of course, the question is: how many papers should one write per year? Can the pressure of the system be detrimental to the integrity of researchers?
Most PhD candidates’ research involves empirical research with human subjects. As this is highly challenging from an ethical perspective, we will discuss this more extensively. Legal regulations, ethical codes of research organizations, faculties or universities are important (and strict) guidelines that describe the duties of researchers and therefore are helpful in many cases. However, in all research projects there will be moments at which ethical principles conflict or at which it is a challenge to strictly conform to the rules of the ethical research codes. Particularly in research in which groups are involved or in longitudinal studies the informed consent of participants may pose a challenge or even threat to one’s research. And what if you find information in neurological or genetic research that you were not looking for that is important but also devastating for the research subjects? In all such situations, ethical codes can guide, but not replace, ethical judgement.
Course objectives
- PhD Candidates know the central ethical principles underlying responsible conduct of research, particularly when human subjects are involved
- Candidates know the legal rules as well as the ethical codes of the VSNU, their professional organizations (e.g. NIP/NVO) and the Faculty
- Candidates are able to evaluate research (plans) by means of the ethical principles
- Candidates are able to detect and reflect on ethical dilemmas in empirical research
- Candidates are able to work relatively autonomously from their supervisor and are able to stand up for themselves in a respectful manner
- Candidates’ disposition to follow the ethical principles in their own research has been strengthened
- Candidates’ motivation to be responsible researchers and research with integrity has been strengthened
Type of Assessment
Type of Assessment(s): Paper
Grading: Excellent, Good, very satisfactory, sufficient, insufficient Date to turn in the assignment: to be announced.
Next dates and registration form.
Research Master Students and PhD candidates
Coordinator: dr. Anders Schinkel, a.schinkel@vu.nl
Lecturers: dr. Anders Schinkel and Johannes Drerup
Credits: 3 EC
Costs: €375