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Teaching ethics and research skills using a proposal writing exercise in pre-award years

PLAT 2008 University of Bath, 2 nd July. Teaching ethics and research skills using a proposal writing exercise in pre-award years. Dr. Olivia A Hurley Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT), Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland. Presentation Outline. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT

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Teaching ethics and research skills using a proposal writing exercise in pre-award years

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  1. PLAT 2008 University of Bath, 2nd July Teaching ethics and research skills using a proposal writing exercise in pre-award years Dr. Olivia A Hurley Institute of Art, Design & Technology (IADT), Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland.

  2. Presentation Outline Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath • Key terms defined [i.e., ethics, ethical research]; • Comment on the importance of teaching ethics and the challenges posed; • Describe the task employed in the exercise; • Comment on the feedback provided to, and received from, students; • Draw conclusions and suggest future practices.

  3. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath What does ‘Ethics’ refer to? • Term “Ethics”, derived from the Greek word “ethos” = An individual’s character/disposition. • Ethics / Ethical v Moral • “Ethical” often denotes conforming to rules of behaviour, or a code/set of principles • (i.e., Codes of Conduct in Sport (Lions) (Kimmel, 2007)

  4. Importance of Ethics in Everyday-Life Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath “…it was unethical [of Nina Ricci]..” Sarah Jessica Parker’s reaction to learning that she was not the first individual to wear the dress she appeared in at the New York Premiere of the Sex and The City movie earlier this summer.

  5. Importance of Ethics in Academic-Life Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath “Ethics are not facts. They are a way of approaching a decision. Mentors should have a constant dialogue with their students as to why they are doing what they are doing”. Celia Fisher, Fordham University (cited in Stambor, 2005)

  6. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath Importance of Ethics in Psychological Research • According to the APA (2002), its Code of Ethics “is intended to provide specific standards to cover most situations encountered by psychologists… its goals [being] the welfare and protection of the individuals and groups with whom psychologists work and the education of members, students, and the public regarding ethical standards of the discipline [psychology]” (p. 3). • Gibson et al. (2008) - Teaching Qualitative Methods at Undergraduate Level (PLAT, 2008).

  7. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath Teaching Ethics in Psychology Current methods employed to teach ethics include: • Case Studies (The Milgram Studies) • Media Diaries (Cases on TV; newspapers etc.) • Role Playing • Classroom Debates • Internships & Practical placements (Ware Balogh, n.d.)

  8. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath Goals of Teaching Ethics Students should develop skills in the following areas: 1. Sensitivity to ethical issues [‘developing a moral imagination’], or an awareness of the needs of others - Acknowledging an “ethical point of view”; 2. Recognition of ethical issues, or the ability to see ethical implications of specific situations and choices; (Ware Balogh, n.d.)

  9. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath Goals of Teaching Ethics • 3. Ability to analyze and critically evaluate ethical dilemmas, including an understanding of competing values, and the ability to scrutinize options for resolution; • 4. Develop an ethical responsibility, or the ability to make a decision and take action; • 5. Tolerance for ambiguity, or the recognition that there may be no single ideal solution to ethically problematic situations. (Ware Balogh, n.d.)

  10. Challenges in Teaching Ethics Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath • Specific challenges include: • 1. Imparting the knowledge in an effective way so that students understand the importance of being ethical in their research. • 2. Helping students to move away from seeing ethics as a “roadblock” to studying the ‘exciting stuff’. • 3. Measuring their knowledge and understanding of ethical issues.

  11. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath Importance of Proposal Writing Skills in Department of Learning Sciences (DLS), IADT • 3rd year group project (10 credits) – An award year (30% contribution of the final award year). • Final [4th] year project/thesis (20 credits). • Postgraduate [i.e., Strand 1] Applications – Research proposals and ethics forms required in submissions. • Staff submissions [i.e., Seed funding; Strand 3].

  12. The Present Exercise Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath • Aims: • 1. To give 2nd year PAIT students the opportunity to practice completing a research proposal, including a DLS Ethics Form-A (an additional document to accompany the Continuous Assessment (CA) piece of work). • 2. To allow students research a topic of interest to them within an area of psychology that could potentially become the topic of their 4th year project.

  13. The Present Exercise Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath • Aims: • 3. To improve the research proposal writing skills and ethical knowledge of PAIT students prior to their proposal submissions in 3rd and 4th year. • Participants: • N = 35; 2nd year PAIT students; 19 males, 16 females • (Age range of 18-21 years, with 1 mature student).

  14. The Present Exercise Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath • Assessment Criteria • Students chose a topic considered a potential 4th year thesis topic; Therefore, the topic had to be ethically suitable as an undergraduate study • (Resistance! David Boud, PLAT 2008) • The assignment was to be written in a clear and scientific fashion. All statements and claims supported with references [APA referencing format].

  15. The Present Exercise Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath • Duration & Value of CA • CA Set date: 13th November 2007; • CA Submission date: 11th December 2007; • CA Feedback to students: 9th January 2008. • Value of the CA: 10% of the final 2nd year grade for the Research Methods & Statistics Module.

  16. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath CA Research Proposal Headings • Background to the area of study • [including brief LR, aim(s) and research question(s)]; • (ii) Proposed methodology (Participants, Materials/Apparatus, Procedure); • (iii) Proposed analysis of the data & presentation of the results; • (iv) Proposed timetable; • (v) Ethical considerations; • (vi) Budget • (vii) Key References

  17. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath DLS Ethics Form-A • Students were also required to complete the IADT DLS Ethics Form (DLSEF-Version A) with their proposal; • DLSEF-A differs from DLSEF-B [A-Form: Indicates the study will not include: • (i) Any “at risk” participants; • (ii) Sensitive/controversial issues; • [i.e., Issues requiring specific consideration by the DLS Ethics Committee].

  18. DEPARTMENT OF LEARNING SCIENCES ETHICAL APPROVAL FORMA Title of project Name of researcher(s) Name of supervisor

  19. Please tick either box A or box B below and provide the details required in support of your application. Then sign the form. I am familiar with the PSI Code of Professional Ethics and BPS Guidelines (and have discussed them with the other researchers involved in the project). Signed Print Name Date Applicant Signed Print Name Date Supervisor

  20. Statement of Ethical Approval This project has been considered using agreed Departmental procedures and is now approved. Signed Print Name Date ________ (Chair, DLSEC) Notes Research proposals can receive only provisional approval from the Department in the absence of approval from any agency where you intend to recruit participants. If you have already secured the relevant consent, please enclose a copy with this form. Where your application for ethical approval is rejected, you (and, where relevant, your supervisor) will be informed. The grounds for refusal will be outlined and will have to be addressed in your re-submission. Approved proposals will be retained in the Department for 18 months after your degree has been awarded. The DLSEC is not primarily concerned with methodological issues but may comment on such issues in so far as they have ethical implications. Please submit this form and any attachments to WebCT This form has been adapted from pp. 13-14 of Guidelines for Minimum Standards of Ethical Approval in Psychological Research (British Psychological Society, July, 2004) and the Department of Applied Psychology, University College Cork’s Ethical Approval Form (Ver. 1 – 11/05; with thanks to Dr Ronald Swain).

  21. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath DLS Ethics Committee (DLSEC) • The DLSEC in IADT consists of 4 members of the academic staff in DLS. • The DLSEC meets 4/5 times annually to review the research proposals submitted by undergraduates (Ethics Form-B), postgraduates and staff members in the DLS. • No research study is permitted to commence in DLS without having received ethical approval from the DLSEC- Best practice.

  22. CA Preparation Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath • Prior to completing the CA exercise, the students engaged in a class exercise where they discussed their proposal topic ideas. • Any problematic issues that arose were discussed, with the lecturer and fellow students providing advice to their classmates; Questioning competencies (Aguinis & Henle, 2004). • Where a DLSEC Form-B was considered necessary, students were instructed to modify or change their proposal topics so that it fulfilled the criteria for DLSEC Form-A and the CA exercise set.

  23. Lecturer Feedback Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath • Grades and percentages • Detailed written comments on – • (i) Content of each section; • (ii) Level of detail provided in each section; • (iii) Areas for improvement in future proposals; • [writing style, methodology detail provided, analysis]; • (iv) Suitability of topic chosen as a 4th year study.

  24. Student Feedback Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath • 1. Group discussion: • - The students referred to their greater awareness of the level of detail required in the methodology & analysis sections of the proposal following lecturer feedback; • - Commented on the how the CA [Proposal & DLSECF-A] allowed them the opportunity to learn about requirements of successful ethical research proposals for their 3rd & 4th year research studies.

  25. Student Feedback Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath 2. Student Comments on QA 1 • “…the CA … very good, especially the feedback ..” [Participant 4] • “..the CA… good in the sense we will be doing them [proposals] in 3rd year and 4th year for real so its good practice” [Participant 10]

  26. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath Conclusion • 2nd year PAIT students considered the CA Proposal and EF-A writing exercise: (i) beneficial in allowing them to practice writing ethical, research proposals, (ii) helpful in allowing them to understand the requirements of good research proposals for future 3rd and 4th year projects [Future Learning (Boud – PLAT 2008)].

  27. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath Suggestions for Teaching Ethics in the Future • More practice writing research proposals for pre-award years beyond 2nd year. • Practice writing briefings, debriefings, consent form. • Student representatives on ECs (Stambor, 2005). • Observations of ECs at work - Panel discussion of proposals-Using Templates.

  28. Take-Home Point Students learn through practice and experience. They should be able to justify what they plan to do in any research study….. …“Ethics are not facts. They are a way of approaching a decision. Mentors should have a constant dialogue with their students as to why they are doing what they are doing”. Fisher (cited in Stambor, 2005) Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath

  29. References Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath Aguinis & Henle (2004). Ethics in research. In S.G. Rogelberg (ed.). Handbook of Research Methods in Industrial and Organisational Psychology (pp. 34-56), Malden, MA: Blackwell. American Psychological Association (APA, 2002). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code Of Conduct. Retrieved 10th June, 2008 from: http:///www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.html. Gregory, I. (2003). Ethics and Research. London, UK: Continuum. Kimmel, A.L. (2007). Ethical Issues in Behavioral Research: Basic and Applied Perspectives (2nd Edition); UK; Wiley-Blackwell Publishers. Stambor, Z. (2005). Rethinking ethics thinking. gradPSYCH, 3 (4). Retrieved 8th June, 2008 from: http://gradpsych.apags.org/nov05/rethinking.html. Ware Balogh, D. (n.d.). Teaching Tips: Teaching Ethics Across the Psychology Curriculum. Retrieved 10th June, 2008 from: http://www.psychologicalscience.org/teaching/tips/tips_0902.cfm.

  30. Dr. Olivia Hurley, IADT PLAT 2008, Bath Thank you for your attention Any Questions?

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