Entry requirements

The course is only open for students enrolled in the Bachelor's programme in Peace and Development Studies or in the Master's Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies. Passed grades in the course Peace and Conflict Studies A (for BSocSc programme students) or passed grades in the course Methods I (for MSocSc programme students).

Learning outcomes

After completion of this course the student is expected to:

• be able to critically assess when research involving human subjects is necessary and warranted
• have acquired knowledge of the basic principles and standards of research ethics in peace and conflict research
• have acquired knowledge of advanced topics in research ethics in peace and conflict research
• be able to identify and assess relevant ethical problems associated with commonly used methodologies in peace and conflict research
• be able to identify and assess strategies to minimise and mitigate ethical problems in peace and conflict research
• have acquired knowledge about the challenges involved in research ethics
• independently solve assignments within allocated time

Content

The course aims to familiarize students with the state of the art with regard to research ethics. This includes basic principles and standards regarding the safety of research participants and the exhortation to do no harm, and their formalization in different institutionalized guidelines. It also includes advanced ethics topics; examples include (but are not restricted to) reflexivity and positionality, researcher related trauma, responsibilities vis-à-vis the research team, data security and other logistics, and research fatigue. The course covers all relevant forms of data collection which involves personal data on human subjects, including fieldwork methodologies (e.g. interviews, focus groups, and participant observation); large-N (e.g. surveys and experimental work involving human participants); and desk studies which involve personal data absent consent (e.g. archival sources, court transcripts, and other reproduced materials).

Instruction

The course will be carried out through interactive seminars during which the students will present and discuss written submissions.

Assessment

Examination and grading are based on the students' performance in the following areas: seminar assignments; active participation in seminars; and a final written assignment.

In order to receive the grade Pass (G), the student is required to:

• participate in all mandatory seminars and present a genuine attempt to solve all assignments before each seminar. Should a student fail to hand in a seminar assignment on time and/or be absent from a seminar, he/she will need to complete a replacement assignment in addition to the original assignment.
• receive a grade of Pass on the final written assignment.

In order to receive the grade Pass with distinction (VG), the student is required to:

• participate in all mandatory seminars and present a genuine attempt to solve all assignments before each seminar. Should a student fail to hand in a seminar assignment on time and/or be absent from a seminar, he/she will need to complete a replacement assignment in addition to the original assignment
• receive a Pass with distinction (VG) on the final written assignment.

The grading system has three grades: Pass with distinction (VG); Pass (G); and Fail (U).

One retake opportunity is offered per year the course is offered.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Other directives

Priority in enrolment will be given to students enrolled in the Master's Programme in Peace and Conflict Studies.