Workshop Ethical Scrutiny in Undergraduate and Postgraduate Projects

1. WorkshopEthical Scrutiny in Undergraduate and Postgraduate Projects Alastair Irons – Northumbria University Roger Boyle – University of Leeds

2. Introduction • Ethical scrutiny of university research is patchy despite the fact that more institutions than ever have committees to vet projects”, Nuffield Foundation 2005. One of the criteria in the Nuffield Foundation research was “whether student research is scrutinised” • Accepted that ethical scrutiny takes place on academic research and for PhDs, • but what about p/g and u/g ? • There is potential for Computing projects, at any level, to cause harm • to subjects / clients • through the development of inappropriate products or artefacts • through potential misuse of a product or artefact • What will the consequences be if something goes drastically wrong? • For School • For University • For Computing as a discipline

3. Objectives of Workshop • To consider appropriate ethical scrutiny in the undertaking of undergraduate and taught post graduate Computing projects through raising awareness of the issue. • To optimise the educational benefits for students of us protecting ourselves  • To get a feel from the community about the seriousness or potential seriousness of the issue(s)

4. Task • How do you address computer ethics currently in your u/g and p/g programmes ? • Specific module(s) or embedded throughout? • Address BCS LSEP expectations? • How and where do students apply computer ethics? • Do you cover research ethics? • Are ethical issues covered in computing projects at • Terms of reference • Ethical statement (is this assessed ?) • Included in project report ?

5. Activity to date • On-line questionnaire via HE Academy subject specialism • Paper presented at CPHC Learning Development Group (early 2005) • Discussion question via CPHC e-mail list • Paper at CPHC Conference – Easter 2005 • Discussions with CETL at University of Leeds: IDEAS - Inter-disciplinary ethics across subject disciplines Conclusions: it’s a live issue. But underdeveloped.

6. Task • Read hypothetical scenarios (handout) • How would you react if this happened to • A student under your care? • A student you were supervising? • A student in your School? • A student in your university or college? • A student in a department in which you were External Examiner?

7. Focus of Concern • Current position appears to be a focus on ethical concerns in project activity and project output, for example • Obtaining primary data from populations / clients who include under-18s and / or vulnerable adults • Development of Computing artefacts which raise ethical concerns, eg virus generators or tools for penetration testing • Research in sensitive Computing subjects such as Health Informatics, Computer Forensics, dataveillance, cookie generation, viruses, hacking, security, graphics, computer games

8. Rise in Ethical Considerations and Concerns • Growth in University and School committees considering ethical issues • Growth in the breadth and choice of Computing projects • Growth in the potential for Computing projects to cause harm either to subjects or through inappropriate development or misuse of product • Ethical considerations, including project ethics, relate to BCS issues of professional, social, ethical and legal coverage. Other PSBs are going this route too. • Primary data gathering, not confined to social sciences, Computing projects may need to consider concept such as; • informed consent, • anonymity, • confidentiality, • rights of the subject

9. Task - Responsibilities • Do you think that ethical responsibility should be the concern of the • Student • Project supervisor • Project tutor (looks after the project process) • Ethics Committee • Somebody else • Which projects should be scrutinised? • All • Sample • Specific criteria • By exception • None • Is there a difference between academic staff proposed project and student proposed project?

10. Framework Development • Plan is to develop a framework in conjunction with CPHC Learning Development Group, professional bodies in computing (BCS, IEE, ACM), IDEAS CETL • Framework to provide guidelines on ethical • Responsibilities: institutions, schools, staff, students • Scrutiny: terms of reference, ethics committee • Inclusion in student project • Assessment

11. Subjects for Consideration in Framework • Potential for harm ? • Subject, student, academic, institution • Potential for misuse ? • Product or artefact • Potential to break law ? • Product or artefact • Primary data to be collected ? • Consent required ? • Need for authorisation by “ethics committee”

12. Pragmatics and Responsibilities • There needs to be a quick and workable “filter” to ensure ethical appropriateness • Balanced with the need to ensure all interests are protected • Subject / client • Student • Supervisor • School / Department • University

13. Possible Actions • Do nothing – maintain status quo • Check projects • Select a sample for ethical check • Select specific projects dependent on • subject matter • contact with public • Have an “ethical reviewer” in all Schools ? • Select by exception • Check all • Potential to block or stop a project

14. Task • Are you concerned about the potential ethical problems in u/g and p/g projects? • If so, why? If not, why not ? • What issues do you think should be included in an ethical “filter”? • How do you think subjects, students, academics and institutions should be protected? • Would you consider making use of a voluntary framework for scrutiny? If not, whose endorsement might change your view?