Faglig innhold

Research ethics covers a wide range of issues where good and responsible professional conduct is at stake. The main aim of the course is to provide an overview of the ethics of the profession. The course covers general as well as domain specific issues at the Faculty of Engineering. The course is compulsory for all PhD students at the faculty.

Læringsutbytte

The candidates will acquire an overview of current issues, established guidelines and institutional mechanisms in three domains of research ethics.

• The domain of research integrity focus on safeguarding the quality of the research outcome. Topics include issues of misconduct like plagiarism, standards for co-authorship, the reproduction crisis and new bad actors like predatory journals.
• The second domain focus on the ethics of the research process. Topics include privacy and protection of data, institutional responsibilities and relationships to colleagues.
• The domain of social responsibility focuses on the consequences of research. Topics include issues of dissemination, social impact and researchers’ relationship to politics and other societal actors.

On completion of the module, candidates will possess the following:

Knowledge:

• Has knowledge of key contemporary topics of research ethics; the institutional arrangement and ethical standards

Skills:

• Ability to identify ethical issues and requirements in their own research projects as well as others, and judge its implication for the conduct of research

General Competence:

Ability to work with colleagues to discuss how identified ethical issues can and should be handled in writing, producing a structured, balanced, independent and argumentative group report.

Læringsformer og aktiviteter

The course will be offered every semester. The course will consist of two seminar days of lectures and group work and a final seminar day. The seminar days of lectures will introduce key topics in research ethics preparing for a three-week period where candidates work in groups preparing a report. While the report will rely on literature self-study, the topics of the report will be provided by the course leader. The group report will be presented and defended on the final seminar day.

Obligatoriske aktiviteter

• 80% Oppmøte

Spesielle vilkår

Forkunnskapskrav

This course is open only for PhD candidates at IV Faculty.