This course introduces the ethical norms that guide humanities research and how these principles are institutionalized in Norway and internationally.
Participants will discuss key ethical norms for research such as the truth norm, e.g. “the search for truth, commitment to truth, integrity, and honesty […as…] preconditions for quality and reliability in research” (NESH, 2022), the duty to recognize the contributions of others to our work, and co-authorship rights and duties.
They will share their reflections on ethical issues in their own research projects and discuss issues arising in the projects of their peers.
This is a 1 ECTS course.
Course preparations
Reading: Course participants will read about 100 pages of required readings and supplement this with about 100 pages of their own choice. You will also read the essays by participants in the same groups as yourself.
Writing: You will submit a brief essay discussing an ethical dilemma/challenge/choice in connection with your PhD project. The essay should be 2-3 pages, plus bibliography, and cannot be a text also submitted for an advanced course in research methods. Make sure you reflect explicitly on relevant parts of the NESH guidelines and course literature. The essay will be read by other participants to the course and discussed in groups. The text should be uploaded to Canvas by 11 November.
Here is a list of possible issues, but others may also be raised:
- Challenges related to ethical rules and guidelines as set by NESH, SIKT or other, subject-specific bodies. E.g.: how to understand, weigh and implement the guidelines; how to establish and handle a dialogue with relevant bodies; how to handle guidelines felt to be unsatisfactory.
- Challenges in handling a concrete body of empirical material (e.g. archives, texts, informants); how to handle role complexities and conflicts vis-à-vis informants; handling clauses; handling third parties; how to represent/quote texts/archives in the ph.d thesis.
- Challenges arising in collaborative research endeavors, e.g., co-authorship, publication order of related articles, changes in intra-group relationships.
- Broader/more general ethical challenges, such as power disparities between researcher and informant; researcher imperatives toward societal engagement, and the commitment to criticism.
In class
Your reflections will be the starting points for our discussions—in groups and plenary. Everyone is expected to have read all texts submitted by the other course participants in the groups they work. Groups are published in the digital learning platform two days before the course at the latest.
Professors Bjørn Ramberg and Heidi Østbø Haugen will facilitate the discussions. Professor Hanne Hagtvedt Vik will be present.
Language
The course language is English, including reading responses and essays.
Required readings
List of required readings is published in the Canvas room, and you will be added to the room soon when you have been admitted to the course.
Responsible for Canvas rooms: Sofie Stubberud Aaslund
Registration
Registration opens 1 October 2024. Candidates admitted to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Humanities at UiO are given priority.
Course Convenors
Professor Bjørn Ramberg, IFIKK
Professor Heidi Østbø Haugen, IKOS
Professor Hanne Hagtvedt Vik, IAKH/Head of researcher training at HF
Administrative contact: Hanne Hagtvedt Vik