Applied Research Ethics

This course provides PhD candidates with essential skills for assessing and managing research ethical issues in the humanities generally, and in their own doctoral projects specifically.

The course offers an introduction to relevant legislation and ethical guidelines in Norway, such as the Research Ethics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the ethical guidelines of the National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (NESH). Based on the PhD candidates’ research projects, the course discusses potential ethical challenges that may arise during the research process. This includes specific ethical issues and guidelines (e.g., research on human remains, research on ethnic minorities, or internet research), as well as challenges encountered when conducting research in other countries with varying norms and laws.

The course also covers how to collect, store, and handle research materials responsibly and in accordance with the GDPR. Additionally, it addresses ethical aspects of academic writing and publishing, such as the use of AI tools, plagiarism, and co-authorship. Discussions about the researcher's responsibility and role (and safety) when interacting with informants and human forms of expression, both past and present, are central to the course. Special emphasis is placed on the social, cultural, and religious contexts of research work and the ethical challenges these entail. The course also tackles topics particularly relevant to historical, archaeological, cultural, and religious studies, such as cultural heritage crime, unclear provenance, and the potential unintended political use of research.

Upon completion of the course, the PhD candidate is expected to achieve the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The PhD candidate:

• is familiar with relevant legislation and current research ethics guidelines in Norway (the Research Ethics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, NESH’s research ethics guidelines) and, if applicable, other countries where their research is conducted
• understands research ethics frameworks specific to archaeology, history, cultural studies, and religious studies (e.g., research on human remains, research on ethnic minorities, or internet research)
• knows the bodies and procedures for reporting research projects that handle personal data (Rette, Sikt)
• has insight into disciplinary discourse and ongoing debates about research ethics in their own field as well as in the humanities and social sciences in general

Skills

The PhD candidate:

• can identify, reflect on, and manage ethical issues in their own and others’ research work
• can interpret research ethics guidelines and handle tensions between different guidelines and practical research considerations
• can collect, store, process, and communicate their data (e.g., archival sources, texts, artifacts, ethnographic data) in a responsible and secure manner, in accordance with legislation and research ethics guidelines
• can critically reflect on their own role as a researcher when engaging with research fields and empirical data, and manage potential conflicts that arise during the research process
• can identify and handle ethical issues in academic writing and publishing

General competence

The PhD candidate:

• has developed the ability for ethical reflection and can handle ethical issues in practice, preparing them for a future career in research or research administration
• can use their knowledge and skills in research ethics to discuss ethical issues within their own and other fields, as well as provide basic guidance on research ethics to students
• can actively participate in debates about research ethics within the research community