Applied Research Ethics
A course in applied research ethics designed for PhD candidates in the humanities, especially those working in archaeology, history, cultural, and religious studies.
Main content
- What legal and ethical norms must I consider when planning, conducting, and publishing my PhD research?
- How do I interact responsibly with interlocutors, research participants, and stakeholders, especially in politicized contexts or projects involving vulnerable groups?
- What are the rights of historical subjects, and what ethical challenges arise when researching materiality and non-human actors?
This course in applied research ethics is designed for PhD candidates in the humanities, especially those working in archaeology, history, cultural, and religious studies. The course provides an accessible overview of Norwegian legislation and ethical guidelines, and creates space for discussion and reflection on how to approach ethical dilemmas in candidates’ own research.
We will address concrete ethical questions and guidelines relevant to course participants (e.g., research on human remains, ethnic minorities, or internet data), as well as challenges of conducting research in other countries with different norms and laws. A central part of the course is discussion about the researcher’s responsibilities and role when working with informants and cultural expressions, both past and present.
We pay special attention to the social, cultural, and religious contexts of research, and the ethical challenges these raise. We also look at questions of collecting, storing, and handling research materials responsibly, and discuss ethical aspects of academic writing and publishing, including the use of AI tools, plagiarism, and co-authorship.
Obligatory activities:
- Submit a reflection paper on research ethics issues in the candidate’s doctoral project (approximately 500 words)
- Provide oral feedback to two other PhD candidate’s presentations
Form of assessment:
- Oral presentation of research ethics issues in the candidate’s doctoral project (15 minutes) followed by a discussion
More information is available in the course description. For questions about the program and content, please contact the course coordinator Henriette Hanky.