Skip to main content

Privileged Logics 2024 Conference: Highlights from a Research Ethics Workshop

 


At the Privileged Logics 2024 Conference, various participants shared what was being done at their institutions regarding research ethics. Training ranged from nothing and bare minimum CITI modules focused on compliance for those with federally funded grants, to monthly town halls and resources provided across campus. Some included weekly face-to-face trainings to supplement CITI required courses for all researchers, whether or not they are federally funded. The most comprehensive program resulted from disciplinary action by a federal granting agency.

Examples of research ethics topics most directly related to privilege included sexual harassment and Indigenous student mentoring. But there was wide agreement that the orientation to understanding and addressing privilege was largely absent from most institutional training.

A narrow focus on research integrity ignores the social benefits of research and equity and generally leads to rather superficial topics and a focus on compliance. The emphasis on 'sins' of commission versus omission is also rooted in a liability attitude.

Participants thought historical background and the case study method were valuable if done right, but they had also seen ineffective uses of such strategies. Other problems included pushback from privileged professors who think they don’t need or have time for RCR training. Disregard for research impacts was linked to a “pure science” philosophy (though participants noted that caring about impacts and caring about pure science are not mutually exclusive). 

Suggestions for improving RCR training included:

  • Becoming more transparent about the origins of research ethics training in harms to marginalized communities
  • Emphasizing cultural humility in instruction regarding historical background
  • Higlighting how these problems are still relevant for institutions

For assessment, this group liked the idea of a pre-test using a qualitative approach to test changing language and attitudes about topics such as "what is evidence?"

There was a desire to move beyond online-only experiences such as CITI to at least supplement those trainings with in-person learning community meetings. For example, you can’t move on to the next CITI module until/unless you attend an in-person learning community meeting to process/reflect on that module. These kinds of interventions also could take the form of internal conferences inside labs to discuss good lab practices. This group also thought it was important for researchers to attend “booster” F2F meetings on an annual basis. 



Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular Posts

The Impact of Learning Communities on Equitable and Quality-Driven Research Cultures

Learning communities can be built around both institutional and inter-institutional goals and target populations. Within institutions, current voices can be supplemented by purposive expansions through cohort hires and other strategies to foster inclusive, and usually, interdisciplinary conversations. In addition to multiple disciplines, multiple institutional roles are often usefully present in the learning communities that effect institutional change. The dialogue across, rather than among, supposed interests also encourages plain speaking and a focus on “facts” of the situation. Strategies for avoiding the reproduction of inequities in learning communities include: intentionally bring in a variety of experiences and views; make sure there’s a seat for everyone, open dialogue, identify and address barriers to participation (e.g., provide financial or in-kind compensation like time off work or course release time). Possibilities for impacting change include: creating new policies and ...
Post a Comment
Read more

WMU Ethics Center Announces Keynote Speaker on Privilege in Research Ethics

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University’s Center for the Study of Ethics in Society has announced the keynote speaker for a National Science Foundation-funded conference Feb. 25 in Cincinnati. Sarina Saturn , Ph.D., editor of the ADVANCE Journal for Individual and Institutional Transformation for Social Justice, will headline the one-day conference focused on privilege in research ethics titled “Privileged Logics: Interrogating Foundations and Practices in Research Ethics.” NSF awarded the Ethics Center $49,792 for a one-year grant to plan and host the conference in cooperation with the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics . A neuroscientist and social justice advocate, Saturn devotes her time educating communities on LGBTQ2SIA+ and other minority groups’ trauma healing and growth. She currently serves as the director of strategic partnerships at OEA Choice Trust. She has extensive education and research experience as an associate professor at the University of Port...
1 comment
Read more