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Introduction to Research Ethics

Working with People

Natasha McKeever

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is useful for learners undertaking research with people using social research methods such as questionnaires, interviews etc. The course is essential for undergraduate students completing research for their final year project but it is also suitable for postgraduates and academic researchers. The course is part of the academic skills courses portfolio at the University of Leeds aiming to improve skills required for academic study. You can use the hashtag #FLresearchpeople to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Research ethics: why it matters
Recruiting your participants for your research and getting their consent
What to consider if you are recruiting vulnerable participants
Could your research put you or your participants at risk of harm?
Storing personal data
Archival and internet research

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Reviews summary

Foundation in research ethics principles

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in research ethics, particularly for those new to working with people. Many found the structure clear and easy to follow, with well-organized modules and clear video lectures. Students appreciated its practical relevance, stating it is essential for academic projects and directly applicable to research work. Some reviews indicate the course may be too basic or not go into enough depth on complex topics for those with significant prior experience, highlighting it as primarily a foundational offering. Review dates suggest the course is kept relatively current and potentially updated based on feedback.

Course appears to be updated based on feedback.

"The course seems current and well-maintained."

"Compared to older reviews I saw, some sections seem clearer now, suggesting updates were made."

"I didn't encounter the issues mentioned in reviews from a couple of years ago."

Well-organized modules make learning easy.

"The course structure was easy to follow, breaking down complex ideas."

"I appreciated the logical flow from topic to topic."

"The video lectures were clear and easy to understand."

Directly applicable to academic research projects.

"This is essential for my final year project; it covered exactly what I needed."

"I can immediately apply these principles to my work as a researcher."

"The topics like consent and data handling are directly relevant to my studies."

Excellent introduction to core ethics principles.

"This course gave me a really solid foundation in research ethics..."

"I found the material a clear and concise overview of working ethically with people."

"It's an ideal starting point if you're new to research involving human participants."

Best for beginners; may lack depth for experienced.

"While great for beginners, I felt it didn't go deep enough on some complex ethical dilemmas."

"If you have significant prior experience, you might find parts a bit too basic."

"I was hoping for more detail on specific regulatory challenges."

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Introduction to Research Ethics: Working with People. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Research Ethics: Working with People will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

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Ethics for Anthropological Research and Practice

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Provides a practical guide to research ethics, offering advice on how to design and conduct research studies in an ethical manner. It covers a wide range of topics, including informed consent, confidentiality, conflict of interest, and data management.

Ethics for Anthropological Research and Practice

Paperback

Ethics for Anthropological Research and Practice

Kindle Edition

A History and Theory of Informed Consent

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Explores the ethical and legal issues surrounding informed consent in medical research. It provides a detailed analysis of the concept of informed consent, and it offers guidance on how to obtain informed consent from research participants.

Introduction to Research Ethics

Working with People

Topics Covered

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Reviews summary

Foundation in research ethics principles

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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