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This course is a part of HF's PhD week.
The readings and presentations in class will introduce the systems for research ethics found in laws and ethical guidelines for the humanities, as well as the institutions established to uphold these. 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
Course participants will read about 100 pages of required readings and supplement this with about 100 pages of their own choice. You will submit a brief essay discussing one or more ethical challenges in connection with your PhD project. The essay should be 2-4 pages (800-1600 words), plus bibliography, and cannot be a text also submitted for an advanced course in research methods. The assignments should be uploaded to Canvas before noon on 23 November 2026.
The essay will be read by other participants to the course and discussed in groups.
Here is a list of possible challenges, but others may also be raised:
- Challenges related to ethical rules and guidelines as set by NESH, NSD 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 read all essay’s submitted by the other course participants.
Professor Feroz Mehmood Shah, IFIKK, and professor Hanne Hagtvedt Vik, HF/IAKH, will facilitate the discussions.
Language
The course language is English, including reading responses and essays.
Required readings
List of required readings is available in Canvas
Registration
Registration opens at noon on 7 October 2026.
If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact phd-info@hf.uio.no
Course Convenors
Professor Hanne Hagtvedt Vik, IAKH/Head of researcher training at HF
Administrative contact: phd-info@hf.uio.no