Network of research ethics advisors

Research is based on the ethos of science. Researchers are expected to meet high intellectual demands and to act inherently ethically by reason of their broad knowledge. At the same time, complex ethical dilemmas arise in researchers’ work in the increasingly multifaceted research landscape and increasingly competitive environment as regards resources, which increases the risk of unethical behaviour in their research.
 

The responsibility of a researcher is to be aware of and adhere to the principles of research ethics in his/her activity, agreed national (Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, 2017) and international (e.g. ALLEA, 2017) principles of research integrity and regulations governing practices related to research (incl. in connection with research publishing, research cooperation, applying for and implementing research projects, research data, intellectual and property rights, principles of confidentiality, etc.). In many disciplines, specific codes of ethics have been established, which provide additional guidelines to the researchers of the field for conducting responsible research (e.g. The International, Sociological Association's (ISA) Code of Ethics, Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research (BERA), The Association of Internet Researchers, code of ethics of the Union of Estonian Psychologists, etc.)

At the same time, it is understandable that each researcher alone cannot steer through all the nuances of the field of research ethics; thus, Estonian Code of Conduct for Research Integrity shares the responsibility for the compliance with the values and policies between the research institution and the researcher, emphasizing the role of the university in shaping an environment that supports research. The responsibility of the research institution covers, inter alia, research ethics consultancy and training for researchers.

Based on the above, we are developing the role of the university’s research ethics advisors, whose first task is to provide advice and support to researchers on how to find answers and solutions to complex issues relating to ethics that arise within the framework of research projects (incl. in applying for funding). This does not mean that the research ethics advisors themselves are able to offer the only right or working solutions to all issues, but offer help to those who need advice in finding out which steps must be taken in different situations where solutions are needed. It has been agreed within the network of research ethics advisors that illustrative materials and guidelines on the most typical situations and dilemmas are to be collected and made available to researchers.

Research integrity forms a part of the more extensive framework of good academic practices. The university’s support system, therefore, also includes specialists with different competencies and responsibilities:

• Psychologist-Counsellor for the employees who offers help with finding solutions for coping with work-related stress and complex relationships between people;
• specialists of the Career and Counselling Centre for students who support students in situations where learning difficulties or complex relationships hinder the successful completion of studies;
• Commissioner for Equal Treatment who can be contacted in the case of perceived unequal treatment, incl. discriminative or harassing behaviour;
• chairperson of the Ethics Committee to whom applications for assessing data protection and ethical aspects of the studies to be conducted are submitted, but also formal complaints in cases of reasonable doubt as to the ignorance of research integrity;
• research ethics advisors whose role has been explained in more detail in this guideline (see below).

A detailed overview of the support system as a whole can be obtained from the vision document “Support system for the implementation of good academic practice in TLU” approved by the university Senate. We follow the principle throughout the document that in cases of doubt as to the breach of good academic practice (incl. research integrity) or for finding a solution to an undesirable situation, first (where possible) one must act in accordance with the general organisation of work in the university by contacting the person directly arranging one’s work or the head of unit; in the case of matters relating to labour relations, also, for instance, by contacting a specialist at the Personnel Office or other officials. For students, the primary contact persons are the study counsellor, study programme administrator, head of studies and director at an academic unit.
 

As these are only the first steps in the development of the role of the research ethics advisors, the current advisors have a task (among others) to specify the field of activity of the advisors in the course of their work by connecting and integrating it with the roles of other members of the good practice support system (incl. the Ethics Committee, Commissioner for Equal Treatment, Psychologist-Counsellor, etc.). On the one hand, it means that the research ethics advisors will not mind questions that concern compliance with research integrity, but could fall within the competence of other parties of the university’s support system. On the other hand, it means that research ethics advisors may send the author of the question to another specialist who is more competent to help as regards the particular question. Thus, research ethics advisors can act, for instance, as the first independent co-thinkers and counsellors regarding further action in cases of doubt as to the breach of research integrity in the course of research. At the same time, we have agreed that the role of research ethics advisors does not include solving possible infringement cases or reconciling the parties.

• Lecturers, researchers and doctoral students of TLU – receive support primarily from the research ethics advisor of their unit, but in case of dilemmas and questions related to cross-speciality research topics and methodologies, may also turn to other research ethics advisors.
• Supervisors of Master’s and Bachelor’s theses – students contact their supervisors in matters of research ethics, who ask for advice from the research ethics advisor, where necessary.
• Heads of study areas and research groups – may, in addition to receiving advice on research ethics, contact the research ethics advisors for developing and organising briefings, roundtables and seminars introducing research integrity.

• For asking for advice on more complex issues relating to research ethics that arise in the course of research work (incl. in applying for funding) for finding answers and solutions;
• For asking for advice on questions that may arise in the course of preparing an application to the Ethics Committee (incl. the identification of important principles of research ethics in the light of the research project, considering possible solutions, etc.);
• For receiving advice if questions have emerged on the meaning of the principles of research integrity, different angles of implementing it in practice, etc.);
• For receiving initial advice in case of doubt as to the breach of the principles of research integrity – in the discussion with the advisor, it could be better assessed on the existing information whether it is the case and if yes, then how serious, and receive advice on the next steps. The advisors help to prepare a complaint to be submitted to the Ethics Committee or the Commissioner for Equal Treatment, but the role of the research ethics advisors does not include solving possible infringement cases or reconciling the parties; 
• For help with finding suitable guidance documents, standard forms, etc. related to research ethics and research integrity; 
• For submitting proposals regarding the improvement of the availability of guidance documents, forms, etc. or the development thereof, and for informing of a training need that concerns a wider target group (incl. communicating the need for briefings, roundtables and seminars).

The advisors are the university’s academic employees who have an interest and willingness to deal with the topics of research ethics in depth alongside their own teaching and research work. In accordance with the order of the Vice-Rector for Research, the first research ethics advisors have been appointed who perform the relevant role until 31.08.2023:

Raili Nugin             –  School of Humanities, research fellow (Raili.Nugin@tlu.ee)
Joe Noormets          –  School of Natural Sciences and Health, senior lecturer (Joe.Noormets@tlu.ee)
Madis Järvekülg     –  BFM, junior research fellow (emdies@tlu.ee)
Pille Petersoo    –  School of Governance, Law and Society, lecturer (Pille.Petersoo@tlu.ee)
Meril Ümarik     –  School of Educational Sciences, Associate Professor (Meril.Umarik@tlu.ee)

Taking into account the interdisciplinarity of the research topics of the School of Digital Technologies, we have agreed that the researchers of the School may contact the advisor of another unit depending on the topic.