Dr. Ron Iphofen Dr. Ron Iphofen AcSSAcSS

Independent Consultant, formerly Director of Postgraduate Independent Consultant, formerly Director of Postgraduate Studies, Health Sciences, Bangor UniversityStudies, Health Sciences, Bangor University

Working GroupWorking Group

Janet Lewis (Chair)Janet Lewis (Chair) John OatesJohn Oates Robert DingwallRobert Dingwall Ron IphofenRon Iphofen Nathan EmmerichNathan Emmerich

ThanksThanks

Participants/delegates …and funders:Participants/delegates …and funders: ESRC ESRC British Psychological SocietyBritish Psychological Society British Sociological AssociationBritish Sociological Association Academy of Social SciencesAcademy of Social Sciences Open UniversityOpen University

Background:Background: The ‘Idea’ (AREC 2009)The ‘Idea’ (AREC 2009) The ‘Issues’ – was/is there a ‘problem’?The ‘Issues’ – was/is there a ‘problem’?

ESRC – Framework for Research Ethics (FRE/REF)ESRC – Framework for Research Ethics (FRE/REF)

Rawlins ReviewRawlins Review

Research Integrity ConcordatResearch Integrity Concordat

IRBs (US)IRBs (US)

TCPS 2 (Canada)TCPS 2 (Canada)

New Brunswick DeclarationNew Brunswick Declaration

European Commission (ERA, ERC, Horizon 2020)European Commission (ERA, ERC, Horizon 2020)

RationaleRationale MethodMethod

The ‘form’ and the The ‘form’ and the ‘content’: ‘content’:

Symposia: invited Learned Society delegates Symposia: invited Learned Society delegates + experts from USA, Canada, EC, UKRIO, + experts from USA, Canada, EC, UKRIO, HRAHRA

Symposium 1 – PrinciplesSymposium 1 – Principles Symposium 2 – ValuesSymposium 2 – Values Symposium 3 – StandardsSymposium 3 – Standards

The ‘culture’:The ‘culture’:

‘‘Bottom-up’Bottom-up’

Open discussionOpen discussion

Chatham House RuleChatham House Rule

1: Working principles1: Working principles

Respect for the autonomy and Respect for the autonomy and dignity of individualsdignity of individuals

Scientific valueScientific value Social responsibilitySocial responsibility Maximise benefit and minimise harmMaximise benefit and minimise harm

2: Values2: Values

Reconcile competing democratic Reconcile competing democratic valuesvalues

Public accountability of professionalsPublic accountability of professionals Policy-informing researchPolicy-informing research Freedom of expression and enquiryFreedom of expression and enquiry

3: Standards3: Standards

Recognise diversity of interests & Recognise diversity of interests & methodsmethods

Meet challenge of innovative Meet challenge of innovative methodsmethods

‘‘Best’ practicesBest’ practices Operationalising standardsOperationalising standards

Consensus:Consensus:

Ethics taken seriously – professional/public Ethics taken seriously – professional/public ‘face’‘face’

Principles but not principlismPrinciples but not principlism Virtue ethics v. institutional ‘prescriptions’Virtue ethics v. institutional ‘prescriptions’ Wariness of ‘patient protection’ models Wariness of ‘patient protection’ models ‘‘Ethics’ of ethics reviewEthics’ of ethics review

Challenges:Challenges: Different viewpointsDifferent viewpoints Disciplinary diversity – ‘one size might not Disciplinary diversity – ‘one size might not

fit all’fit all’ How to achieve goals:How to achieve goals:

brief common codebrief common code ‘‘modules’ – on specific problem areas modules’ – on specific problem areas

(children; social media; data sharing)(children; social media; data sharing) some LS’s working together to develop codessome LS’s working together to develop codes ethics guideline/code updatesethics guideline/code updates

Outputs:Outputs:

Summary of existing codes/guidelines Summary of existing codes/guidelines in the social sciences across the LS’sin the social sciences across the LS’s

Meeting notes circulated for commentMeeting notes circulated for comment Papers on Web…Papers on Web… AcSS Professional BriefingAcSS Professional Briefing

(http://www.acss.org.uk/(http://www.acss.org.uk/

Next steps:Next steps:

Ongoing circulation of ‘interested’ Ongoing circulation of ‘interested’ parties for comment/action parties for comment/action contributionscontributions

AREC conference 2013AREC conference 2013 Report of “conclusions to this phase”Report of “conclusions to this phase” 1010thth January conference (British January conference (British

Library)Library)