2. Ethics in Graduate Studies
Vivian R. Ramsden and Scott Tunison
Overview
All of us are curious about ourselves and the world in which we live. As a result, we are often asking questions or seeking to improve or make the world in which we live, work and play better not only for ourselves but for others. Research is a natural extension of this desire to illuminate or understand and to improve the world in which we live, work and play (CIHR, 2018). Thus, the ethical principles and guidelines set out in the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (2018) play the most important aspect of engaging in the pursuit of new knowledge while protecting and respecting participants that agree to engage in research being undertaken by others.
This module will link you to necessary resources from the Government of Canada’s Panel on Research Ethics, and the University of Saskatchewan’s Research Ethics Boards, to help you prepare you for potential research involving human participants.
Learning Objectives
When you have finished this module, you should be able to:
- Identify the core principles of ethical conduct of research involving human participants.
- Categorize and appraise which of the core principles of ethical conduct need to be integrated into your everyday practice.
- Describe the timeline required to move from an application to the appropriate Research Ethics Board, garner Review(s), and receipt of a Certificate of Approval (which is when you can start to undertake the research project proposed).
- Distinguish among and appropriately apply the concepts of voluntary participation, confidentiality, and anonymity.
- Justify when and why a Consent Form is used.
TCPS2 Core Tutorial – 2022
The Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2) offers an online tutorial CORE-2022 (Course on Research Ethics). It is an introduction to the TCPS 2 for all those engaged in research with human participants. It focuses on the TCPS 2 ethics guidance that is applicable to all research involving human participants, regardless of discipline or the methodology.
Complete the online course CORE-2022, which should take approximately 4 hours. You will need to create an account and will be asked to submit your successful Certificate of Completion as an EADM 990 course requirement.
Behavioural Ethics Application Form
Information and resources regarding ethical practice with regards to research involving humans at the University of Saskatchewan is outlined on the following webpage: Human Ethics. Research involving human participants must be reviewed by the Behavioural REB (Research Ethics Board). Should your graduate studies or later academic research ever involve research with human participants, these resources will help you to better understand the process of obtaining a Certificate of Approval from the appropriate REB.
Please review all aspects of the following resources:
- Behavioural Ethics Application Form *
- Behavioural Form Instructions
- Behavioural REB Delegated Review Workflow
* Recommended activity:
While you are reviewing the Behavioural Ethics Application Form, employ the Focused Reading Strategy: that is, mark up the document with the following symbols:
- √ = Got it. I know or understand this.
- ! = this is really important or interesting.
- ? = I don’t understand this or it does not make sense.
This approach will allow you to identify aspects of the Behavioural Ethics Application Form that merit further discussion and to help you answer related questions in a meaningful way. Try to identify 3-5 questions on aspects/elements of the Behavioural Ethics Application Form that need further clarification before you could successfully complete a draft of this document.
EADM 990 Required Task
The following task must be completed to obtain your EADM 990 credit. Submit your work within Canvas by the date indicated in the Syllabus.
Complete the TCPS 2: CORE-2022 (Course on Research Ethics), and download the Certificate of Completion offered at the end of the course.
Submit your Certificate of Completion through the appropriate Canvas assignment.
Retain a copy of this certificate for your own records, and for the requirements associated with GPS 960. Should you at any point want to propose academic research involving human participants, you will also need to submit the Certificate of Completion to the USask Behavioural REB, along with the Behavioural Ethics Application Form.
Optional Activities
Discussion questions:
- What are the core principles of ethical conduct of research involving human participants?
- Within the CORE-2022 (Course on Research Ethics), reflect on the Key Concepts and Definitions found in Module A9: Research Involving Indigenous Peoples. In what ways do these core principles apply to research with Indigenous peoples? What implications do these Key Concepts have for your regular practice?
- What does informed consent mean to you? When should you ask for informed consent?
- What aspects of the USask Behavioural Ethics Application Form require further discussion?
References
Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. (2018). Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans. https://ethics.gc.ca/eng/documents/tcps2-2018-en-interactive-final.pdf
Panel on Research Ethics. (2022). TCPS 2: CORE-2022 (Course on Research Ethics). https://tcps2core.ca/welcome.
University of Saskatchewan. (2018). Human Ethics. Accessed from https://research.usask.ca/rei/researchers/ethics/human-ethics.php on March 30, 2022.
