Research ethics

Scientific knowledge and research involving human beings raise a range of ethical questions at the intersection of ethics, epistemology, and professional ethics. 
Biology uses animals; in medicine, clinical trials are conducted with patients; in schools, students and teachers test approaches that feed into educational science; citizens and users are exposed to technologies that exploit their personal data; etc. 

Research ethics, in the broadest sense, thus concerns a whole range of issues related to the relationship between science and society, including both long-standing and emerging challenges. The "research ethics" course combines teaching on the fundamentals of research ethics (relationships between science and values; foundations of ethics; concepts of risk and precaution) with more applied aspects. Students will study examples from the history and current events of science (scientific fraud, manipulation and controversy, North/South justice issues, etc.). They will learn about the various regulatory frameworks that seek to govern research activities today, particularly those that directly involve living beings (human or otherwise). They will be made aware of the steps to be taken in their own research (feedback to participants, respect for anonymity, secondary uses of research data, etc.) and will be encouraged to develop their reflexivity skills and learn how to position themselves critically in the "society of innovation." 

In particular, education researchers are increasingly using audiovisual materials to illustrate their work or as research materials. They particularly need to be aware of the legal and ethical framework governing the use of these audiovisual materials (image rights, privacy protection, right to be forgotten, etc.). In some cases, the application of this framework poses particular difficulties, particularly with the development of digital technology and recording capabilities. 

Another need, shared across all fields of academic research, concerns plagiarism—a phenomenon that is also linked to digital technology and current changes in documentation and resource sharing practices. 

The module will place a strong emphasis on case studies from the field of educational research. It will also examine ethical review frameworks developed at universities abroad (e.g., Canada, Holland, etc.) and consider their suitability for research practices in education and the social sciences. 

100% Final exam: Oral presentation of a case study, prepared in groups. 

Certified skills (specific, cross-functional)  

• Conduct a reflective and objective analysis that takes into account the challenges, issues, and complexity of a request or situation in order to propose appropriate and/or innovative solutions in line with regulatory changes.
• Apply and promote the principles of ethics, professional conduct, and environmental responsibility.