Seminar (M.A.) -Research Ethics between Theory and Practice
Scientific education traditionally encompasses a wide range of competencies that universities aim to impart, ranging from theoretical foundations to concepts of data collection and analysis. However, research ethics and an awareness of potential pitfalls in practical research are often only marginally addressed. While ethical discussions and ethics committees are often seen by scientists as bureaucratic hurdles, engagement with ethics should be regarded as a valuable skill that can significantly enhance the quality of one’s work and protect researchers from problems.
With the advent of new technology and corresponding new possibilities in social research, classical discussions (such as those concerning informed consent, participant protection, or weighing risks and outcomes) are more relevant than ever. This seminar aims to convey fundamental concepts of research ethics. This includes basic theoretical perspectives on research ethics, historical examples of unethical research and ethical misconduct, as well as the translation from theoretical discussion to practical implications for one’s own research. The goal is to develop an overview of the main issues in practical research and to lay down an initial approach for practical solutions to these problems
You find the syllabus from 2026 here: Syllabus