Students

FOHS710 – Ethical Issues in Research

2018 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Mitch Parsell
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
The conduct of research requires a high level of understanding in what constitutes ethical practice. All researchers need knowledge about what is ethical practice within their discipline and more generally, skills to recognise ethical dilemmas, analyse them and reach sound decisions about good practice. This unit focuses on The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research. It uses a case study methodology to develop understanding of good research practice and systematic skills to evaluate ethical aspects of research. The unit will cover topics such as Human Ethics: consent and confidentiality; Research with special populations e.g. people with mental illness, those incarcerated or unable to consent or end-of-life participants; children; High risk to participant research e.g. medical devices, surgical techniques; Research with non-human animals; Ethics in academic life including authorship and intellectual property; Commercialising research; and misconduct in research. A core element of the unit is to make students aware of their own attitudes and values and to evaluate them with respect to legislative requirements.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Describe the principles and concepts of ethical research contained in The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Reflect on the major ethical issues in a disciplinary specific area
  • Think critically and make informed and logical judgments of the ethical dilemmas in research
  • Understand the principles of ethical standards by critiquing a disciplinary specific research area
  • Articulate clearly a coherent argument about an ethical dilemma in research in written and oral form to a variety of audiences

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Annotated Bibliography 30% No Friday Week 4
Presentation 20% No TBA
Participation 25% No Continuous
Ethics Critique 25% No Friday of Week 12

Annotated Bibliography

Due: Friday Week 4
Weighting: 30%

Annotated Bibliography of 15 items


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the principles and concepts of ethical research contained in The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research

Presentation

Due: TBA
Weighting: 20%

Presentation of a case-based critical appraisal


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the principles and concepts of ethical research contained in The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Understand the principles of ethical standards by critiquing a disciplinary specific research area
  • Articulate clearly a coherent argument about an ethical dilemma in research in written and oral form to a variety of audiences

Participation

Due: Continuous
Weighting: 25%

Participation in seminars/discussion forum


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the principles and concepts of ethical research contained in The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Reflect on the major ethical issues in a disciplinary specific area
  • Think critically and make informed and logical judgments of the ethical dilemmas in research

Ethics Critique

Due: Friday of Week 12
Weighting: 25%

Ethics critique


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the principles and concepts of ethical research contained in The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Reflect on the major ethical issues in a disciplinary specific area
  • Think critically and make informed and logical judgments of the ethical dilemmas in research
  • Understand the principles of ethical standards by critiquing a disciplinary specific research area
  • Articulate clearly a coherent argument about an ethical dilemma in research in written and oral form to a variety of audiences

Delivery and Resources

This unit is taught as a two hour active workshop. 

Unit Schedule

The unit is organised around four themes over 12 weeks:

  • The Problem (weeks 1-2)
  • The History of Ethics Committees (weeks 3-4)
  • The Philosophical Foundations of Ethics Committees (week 5-7)
  • Practical Issues Relevant to Your Research (weeks 8-12)

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe the principles and concepts of ethical research contained in The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Reflect on the major ethical issues in a disciplinary specific area
  • Understand the principles of ethical standards by critiquing a disciplinary specific research area

Assessment tasks

  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Presentation
  • Participation
  • Ethics Critique

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Reflect on the major ethical issues in a disciplinary specific area
  • Understand the principles of ethical standards by critiquing a disciplinary specific research area

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation
  • Participation
  • Ethics Critique

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe the principles and concepts of ethical research contained in The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Think critically and make informed and logical judgments of the ethical dilemmas in research
  • Articulate clearly a coherent argument about an ethical dilemma in research in written and oral form to a variety of audiences

Assessment tasks

  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Presentation
  • Participation
  • Ethics Critique

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the principles of ethical standards by critiquing a disciplinary specific research area
  • Articulate clearly a coherent argument about an ethical dilemma in research in written and oral form to a variety of audiences

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation
  • Ethics Critique

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Describe the principles and concepts of ethical research contained in The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Articulate clearly a coherent argument about an ethical dilemma in research in written and oral form to a variety of audiences

Assessment tasks

  • Annotated Bibliography
  • Presentation
  • Participation
  • Ethics Critique

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Reflect on the major ethical issues in a disciplinary specific area
  • Understand the principles of ethical standards by critiquing a disciplinary specific research area

Assessment tasks

  • Presentation
  • Participation
  • Ethics Critique