Ethics in Research and Scientific Integrity for Researchers

NB. Obligatory for students who did not have a scientific integrity module in the CPE research master, JSM or a similar course. If you wish to apply for exemption please send your certificate and course description to Renate Kroese.

For those who are unable to attend the meetings in Groningen there are a few 'distance groups'. Please contact Renate Kroese for more information.

NB. PhD students from other faculties than the Medical Faculty (GSMS) cannot participate in this course. They are referred to their own faculty for a course on ethics.

NB. PhD students will receive an invitation to register for the course. New PhD students cannot participate until a half year after the start of the project.

Background
Researchers have developed professional standards designed to enhance the progress of science and to avoid or minimize the difficulties of research. These standards more and more become expressed in formal codes that address issues of interpersonal, professional, institutional, and public responsibility: researchers have an obligation towards their fellow researchers in providing accurate and reliable research; they owe themselves adherence to professional standards to build personal integrity in a research career; they may expect an environment in which research can be conducted in an ethically sound way; finally, researchers have an obligation to act in ways that serve the public.

These high moral standards play a role in all phases of research, from research problem selection, methodology, working with research subjects to issues of international collaboration, commercialization and authorship. 

Aim
The aim of the course is to deepen the understanding of and reflection on the problems and tools of research ethics. 

Objectives

• Understand the principles of scientific integrity and why they are important in research.
• Be able to identify and avoid common ethical pitfalls in the conduct of scientific research.
• Understand the role of professional organizations and codes of conduct in promoting scientific integrity.
• Be able to apply ethical principles to real-world scenarios in scientific research.
• Understand the consequences of unethical behavior in science and how to prevent it.

Topics 

• Collection, use, and interpretation of research data
• Methods for reporting and reviewing research plans or findings 
• Interaction between researchers, hierarchical relations 
• Relationships between researchers and those that will be affected by their research
• Protection of human subjects
• Means for responding to misunderstandings, disputes, or misconduct
• Options for promoting ethical conduct in research
• Writing an ethical paragraph about research
• Resources for additional study on topics related to scientific integrity, responsible conduct of research, and research misconduct.
• Risk-benefit assessments
• Informed consent 
• Privacy and confidentiality of research subjects and data
• The role and functions of Institutional Review Boards
• Vulnerable populations
• International research conducted in developing countries
• Faculty specific topics

Course structure
The course consists of 6 meetings (90 minutes each): one plenary introductory meeting (large group) and five coach group meetings. The coach group meetings usually take place approximately once every two or three weeks. The schedule of each coach group will be sent to the participants by email.

Coach group meetings
Meetings prepared by the participants about topics in scientific integrity, relevant for their own practice, supervised by an experienced researcher. Background material is available in Brightspace.

Assessment
Writing assignment graded with pass or fail.
100% attendance is required