Research Ethics: Footnote or Footprint in Doctoral Thesis Examination?

• In Event: 34.078 - Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: 34.078-5 - Doctoral Education Across the Disciplines: Roundtable Session 1

Abstract

There is a fundamental expectation that researchers will act professionally, ethically and responsibly in the conduct of research involving humans and animals. This multi-project mixed methods study draws on a corpus of 3540 examiner reports to determine if the ethical conduct of PhD candidates is a consideration at the point of thesis examination. Results reveal that only 5.2% of examiners made any mention of research ethics, females more frequently, and with marginally greater intensity when there is an oral examination. The paucity of mention and emphasis requires academics and institutions to look closely at how they monitor projects involving humans or animals, and what they expect of the development of the researcher at the end stage of candidature.

Authors

• Allyson Patricia Holbrook, The University of Newcastle

• Kerry Dally, University of Newcastle, Australia

• Terence Lovat, The University of Newcastle

• Hedy Fairbairn

• Carol Avery, The University of Newcastle, Australia