Program Overview

People Studying People: Research Ethics in Society MOOC

Course Description

This is for you if... you want to explore the value of ethical thinking for research, using an ethical appraisal framework to develop and evaluate studies.

Course Information

• Duration: 6 weeks
• Taught by: Education
• Start date: Various

Entry Requirements

• There are no entry requirements for the current range of MOOCs available from the University of Leicester.
• You simply need an internet connection and a computer or tablet device.
• This course is designed for current or aspiring researchers in Social Science, Arts or the Humanities.
• You may have a research project in mind or one that is underway.
• It would also suit those with broader interests in evaluating research involving human participants, including those as potential participants.

English Language Requirements

• There are no specific English language requirements for our MOOCs.
• However, to get the most out of this course you should have a reasonable command of written English.

Fees and Funding

• UK Students: Enjoy this course for free - there are no fees for any of our MOOCs.
• International Students: Enjoy this course for free - there are no fees for any of our MOOCs.

Careers and Employability

• We are one of the UK's top research universities and our PhD and MPhil degrees are rooted in our strong research culture.
• You may want to apply for a research degree in Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities at the University of Leicester.

Related Courses

• Behind the Scenes at the 21st Century Museum
• Forensic Science and Criminal Justice
• People Studying People: Research Ethics in Society

Course Structure

• Week 1: In this first week we will consider what kinds of data collection activity may be undertaken by People Studying People and start to think about what makes such collection ethical.
• Week 2: An ethical appraisal framework of four dimensions has been used to structure weeks 2-4 of the course.
• Week 3: This week investigates the range of responsibilities of a social science researcher.
• Week 4: In week 4 we will examine approaches to developing respectful research relationships.
• Week 5: How can researchers be sure they are 'doing the right thing'?
• Week 6: In the final week of this course we put ethical thinking into practice.

Why Leicester?

• Education at Leicester has an excellent international reputation for the development and teaching of intellectually stimulating education courses.
• The University of Leicester is one of the UK's leading research and teaching universities with over 25 years' experience of offering high quality distance learning courses.
• This course is designed by academics who are at the forefront of research in education and who feed the latest developments into their teaching.

Teaching and Learning

• The course uses a mix of videos, articles and activities, with plenty of opportunities for discussion with fellow learners and further research.
• At the end of each week of the course there is normally a set of multiple choice questions to test your understanding of what you have learned, and this will count towards your overall course score.