SVH-8005 Research Ethics (3 ECTS)
SVH-8005 Research Ethics (3 ECTS)
This course gives PhD candidates across disciplines a comprehensive understanding of research ethics.
It offers foundational knowledge and practical tools to address challenges in your project and prepares you to uphold ethical standards in academia and sectors where research plays a significant role.
The course is given in a digital version during the autumn semester and physical version during the spring semester
The evolving ethical landscape for research adds complexity to this path.This course provides PhD candidates with the knowledge, tools, and frameworks to ensure their research is credible, responsible, and aligned with academic ethical standards.
The course is delivered by a multidisciplinary team and combines foundational lectures with discipline-oriented seminars, a panel discussion addressing the latest issues in research ethics, and an interactive workshop.
Pre-Work
Prior to the course, PhD candidates are required to familiarize themselves with the syllabus and participate in moderated discussion forums on CANVAS. Participants must complete a questionnaire to select their preferred seminar groups and submit a 500-word summary of ethical reflections on challenges in their PhD projects. This information will help the lecturers tailor their lectures and assign PhD candidates to relevant groups for seminars and workshops.
The physical course in spring:
The course is condensed into four days, making pre-work essential for maximizing its value.
- Days 1 and 2: Foundational lectures delivered in an auditorium to all PhD candidates across disciplines.
- Day 3: Discipline-oriented seminars in medium-sized groups to explore ethical issues specific to different areas of study.
- Day 4: Interactive workshops in small, cross-disciplinary groups where PhD candidates present ethical reflections on their research and receive feedback from lecturers and peers.
- Day 5 (if needed): Additional workshop sessions to accommodate all participants. Students presenting on Day 4 are not required to attend Day 5 and vice versa.
Coursework Requirements
In addition to the pre-work, candidates are required to demonstrate 80% attendance across the four days. Participation in the workshop and presentation of their work is mandatory.
The digital course in autumn:
The digital version of the course runs over the whole autumn semester and is available for students on Canvas.
- Part 1: Foundational lectures delivered as video material on Canvas to all PhD candidates across disciplines. Mandatory quiz after lectures.
- Part 2: Discipline-oriented seminars in medium-sized groups to explore ethical issues specific to different areas of study.
- Part 3: Interactive workshops in small, cross-disciplinary groups where PhD candidates present ethical reflections on their research and receive feedback from lecturers and peers.
Coursework Requirements
In addition to the pre-work, candidates have to go through all digital lectures in part 1 to pass a knowledge quiz allowing them to continue to Part 2 of the course. Participation in the seminars, the workshop and the presentation of their work is mandatory.
Exam for both courses
The exam consists of submitting a 3000-4000-word essay via Wiseflow. In this essay, students must demonstrate their ability to identify, navigate, and address ethical challenges that emerge from their own research projects, as well as their critical ability to apply this knowledge to other contexts. The exam will be assessed on a Pass/Fail basis.
