Unit Code:

FCE6100

Unit Title:
Professional Behaviour and Ethical Conduct - Faculty of Engineering

Staff Contacts:
Course leader: Dr Maria Romero-Gonzalez (m.e.romero-gonzalez@sheffield.ac.uk)
Contact for queries: Eunice Lawton (e.lawton@sheffield.ac.uk)

Open To:
First and Second Year of Research - Faculty of Engineering

Semester Taught:
Graduate Year

Teaching Methods
The below sets out the broad framework for the training:
Session 1: Introductory Lecture to inspire interest and encourage independent learning. The
importance and relevance of the training will be conveyed and key concepts introduced. Learners will
be split into groups and meet their facilitator for the Action Learning Sets and perform some group
development exercises.
Session 2: Action Learning Sets to help PGRs become reflective practitioners by discussing the
concepts of ethics and integrity actively through consideration of case studies /examples and then
applying these concepts to their own research.
Session 3: Action Learning Sets that will be more student-led by discussing examples of challenges
they have come across in their own research. The group will choose one issue to discuss and explore
solutions.
Session 4: The groups will prepare a poster and presentation based on their chosen issue and include
two solutions.
Session 5: Poster exhibition and conference ach group will display and discuss their poster and
provide a presentation on their chosen issue.

Assessments

There will be no formal assessment. Tutor and peer evaluation will take place during the poster
exhibition and conference. All attendees will complete a self-assessment form where they will be
encouraged to consider what they have learned and the skills they have gained.

Full Description
Description Training on research ethics & integrity for all postgraduate research students as part of
the Doctoral Development Programme. The training will:

Enhance students' ability to critically analyse/reflect upon their own actions and behaviours
when conducting research from start to finish, as well as interactions with research
participants, supervisors, co-workers etc;

Heighten ethical sensitivity and reasoning, enabling students to plan and prepare for ethical
challenges they may face and to be able to manage challenges.

The training will complement and reinforce existing research methods training.

Aims/Objectives
The key aims of the training are:
1.To encourage PGR students to critically analyse/reflect on their own actions and behaviours in
conducting research and in their interactions with research participants, supervisors, co-workers etc;
2.To heighten PGR students' ethical sensitivity and reasoning, enabling them to plan and prepare for
challenges they may face and to be able manage challenges in an ethical way (ethical sensitivity is
about developing an awareness of the potential consequences of actions and being aware of
alternative courses of action, whereas ethical reasoning is about developing a morally defensible
argument of pursuing a particular course of action).
Learning Outcomes
Through reflecting on/critically analysing their own and others' behaviours and actions students
should gain (through application) a range of key skills for research including:being able to justify and
defend the ethical management (design, data collection etc) of their research (e.g. to a viva panel; to
an ethics committee);

being able to navigate any legal and regulatory requirements affecting their research;

being an independent learner;

being better prepared to manage challenges in their research;

becoming `professionally socialised within their own research discipline and within the
Western higher education context.

Students should also gain key transferable skills useful in any career, helping them to become a more
rounded individual, including:

analytical and critical thinking;

how to work together effectively;

developing the confidence to help them `walk the talk (i.e. sticking to ones principles, being
able to make fully informed judgements and take appropriate actions etc.);

being self-aware and knowing when to ask for advice.

Extra Information
Although the majority of the DDP is individually tailored, ALL new research students are expected to
undertake the research integrity and ethics training module provided by their Faculty, and will be
automatically registered. Good research practices are fundamental to good research, and it is
essential for every researcher to understand how to conduct their research ethically, and with integrity.

Competencies addressed by this course:

Generic Skills