Research and Fieldwork Ethics of Human Sciences with Focus on Local and Indigenous Peoples (5op)

Osaamistavoitteet

After completion of the course the student is able to
- assess the cultural relativity of research ethics
- assess the relevance of the principal codes of ethics of social science professional associations for their own research project
- reflect critically on the principles of research ethics in relation to research impacts on the lives of our research partners in the field
- recognise the importance of the researcher's responsibility for judgement of ethical behaviour during fieldwork in each particular context
- recognise conflicting obligations of a researcher to different groups involved in the research process, such as local and indigenous people, funding agencies, governments and professional communities
- identify and address of possible ethical dilemmas arising from fieldwork situations
- formulate her/his own ethical responsibilities, obligations and rights as a researcher within the context of their own project.

Sisältö

The main 'ethical minimum' in our research which is always a guiding principle is "not doing harm". However, contemporary research ethics go beyond “no harm” and often aim for a deeper value of research for being useful for research participants, communities, broader society or our planet. Moreover, we shall explore together that students are likely to encounter situations where they are going to be accused to cause harm for certain people who are involved in the research. Using examples from the teachers' decade-long experience of working with local and indigenous peoples in the Arctic, the course shall enable participants to navigate such situations responsibly.

The course is going to be taught in four sections by different teachers. Each section will require some reading before and after the sessions.

Arviointikriteerit, tyydyttävä (1)

Fail: Performance is highly deficient or erroneous. The work may be based on serious misunderstandings.

Sufficient and satisfactory (1-2): Performance is lacking in scope, superficial, or corresponds poorly to the assignment. The author merely lists things out of context or addresses them one-sidedly. The work may contain errors or obscurities.

Arviointikriteerit, hyvä (3)

Good and very good (3-4): Performance corresponds to the assignment, manifesting comprehension and a skill to analyse and justify. The author has addressed the issue comprehensively. The work may contain some deficiencies.

Arviointikriteerit, kiitettävä (5)

Excellent (5): Performance delineates an extensive whole and the author can apply knowledge in a multifaceted way or place it in various contexts. The work manifests independency and insight, and it is a flawless entity that involves justified thinking or critical contemplation. The work is well written and implemented.

Oppimateriaalit

TBC during the course.

Toteutustavat

Lectures (22 h), discussion, discussing assigned readings, role games, discussing participants' own work under teachers' guidance, independent work. Hybrid model: online/in-house participation.

Suoritustavat

Preparing before the course start a one-page document on your personal view on research ethics in your research project.
Participation in the sessions and engaging actively in discussions (not miss more than 10 %).
Completing preliminary reading assignments and in some cases producing short summaries in writing about them.
Preparing a draft ethics section for their own research to be discussed in the final course session. The final written assignment will be sent to the assessing teacher only, while an oral version as a presentation will be shared with other participants during the final course session.