Education Institute: Research Ethics: An overview of issues and policies - Lisa Given
This session will explore the nature of research ethics and current ethics policies affecting projects in Canadian libraries. Implications for the design of studies using different methods (e.g., questionnaires; observation; interviews) will be discussed. Participants will have the opportunity to review examples of ethics review forms and discuss strategies for completing the ethics review process.
Who should participate?
Librarians working in any setting (academic, public, special libraries or other information settings) who want to learn more about research ethics. The topic of the session will also apply to a range of content areas — from the health sciences to children's services.
Benefits of Program:
- Provides an overview of key ethics issues (e.g., respecting human dignity, the nature of risk, harms and benefits in research) as applied to the library context;
- Includes practical examples — from projects that have been conducted in library settings across Canada;
- Includes discussion time — so that participants can ask questions about the ethics review process.
Key topics explored during the session:
- How does research ethics apply in a library context?
- What is involved in the ethics review process (esp. in academic libraries and other settings using Canada's national ethics policy statement)?
- What can librarians do to implement ethical procedures for research — even in institutions not governed by a formal process?