FSS - Research Integrity & Responsible Scholarship

Course objectives

Learning about codes of conduct and ethics review at the Faculty of Social Sciences contributes to knowledge and understanding of research design and of norms about working with funders and stakeholders outside university. Plenary discussions and discussions in diverse groups about research ethics and data management contribute to effective teamworking in international and diverse contexts. Completing the ethics review self-check, the discussions about ethical dilemmas, and writing the final paper make you reflect on ethics in all phases of the research process, and specifically on the social and ethical aspects of big and small data. Writing the paper also develops your writing skills.

Course content

This course seeks to contribute to a reflection and discussion on the normative consequences of the abstract ideals of science and an awareness of standards of good conduct and the responsibility of researchers in the social sciences. This course helps to ensure that the privacy safeguards built into the law and regulations at VU and the Faculty of Social Sciences are taking effect in social research. For the social researchers of the future, it is of key importance to be aware of the ethics of data and to uphold the rights of research participants. As the stream of Big Data swells, what are the appropriate procedures to ask for consent with participation in social research? When can research be conducted legitimately in the absence of explicit consent? What are the ethical limits to the use of publicly available data? How can you avoid the temptation of selective analysis of data? What rights do people have with respect to their data, according to Dutch law and European regulations? What does it mean to enjoy a workspace which is safe and founded on academic integrity? How do you navigate dilemmas in research with societal stakeholders?

Form of tuition

In this course, you meet in two different types of settings:

• Interactive meetings (1 hours and 45 minutes including a 15-minute break) to discuss codes of conduct, ethics review procedures, and ethics dilemmas;
• A small group meeting (2 or 3 persons) to discuss peer feedback on the draft of your final paper.

The course is mandatory for (first year) FSS PhD candidates.