Unit 1 Overview

Unit 1 introduces you to the historical and philosophical foundations of research ethics around the world  and highlights the importance of ethical principles in social science research.  You will explore how modern research ethics emerged, why protections for human subjects are necessary, and how ethical considerations extend far beyond informed consent.

This unit emphasizes that ethics is embedded in every part of the research process, from choosing meaningful topics to upholding professional values and considering how findings may be used.

By the end of the unit, you will understand the global foundations of research ethics and recognize your responsibilities to participants, the scientific community, and society.

Learning Objectives

After completing Unit 1, you will be able to:

• Describe the historical foundations of research ethics across the world

• Appreciate  how ethics impacts the entire social science research process

• Explain what “professional” and “social” responsibility means in the context of conducting ethical academic research 

Unit Structure and Learning Materials

You will begin by watching a brief presentation that provides an overview of what “ethics” means in the context of international social science research.  Then, you will review two self-paced presentations; the first highlights key historical developments in social science research ethics, and the second considers the social and professional responsibilities of global academic researchers. 

You will encounter questions throughout to check your understanding of the content. However, these are just for practice.  The unit concludes with a brief quiz for credit.  You will need to achieve at least 80% correct answers in order to proceed to Unit 2.   

Also please note that in this and every other unit in the program, there is a page with supplemental materials related to the main content. However, these are OPTIONAL and you will not be quizzed on any of the materials included in this section.