The UK Research Integrity Office (UKRIO) have developed the following suite of online courses. They are now open to LSE students and staff. The modules serve as foundational courses for early-career researchers (including PhD students), and as refresher for experienced researchers.
The courses can be taken in any order and independently from each other. Each course includes interactive activities, quizzes, and practical resources.
Learners can download a UKRIO certificate of completion at the end of each course. Technical user guidance is available (see instructions for URL users), including on how to pause and resume the course.
Introduction to Research ethics
This 3 to 4-hour course covers the principles and practice of research ethics, including ethical standards and guidance from research conception to dissemination.
The course contains the following modules:
- Foundations of Research Ethics;
- Research Ethics in Context;
- Embedding Ethics in Research;
- Participant Information and Researcher Safety.
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Sensitive research
This 1-hour course provides specialised guidance on emotionally challenging research, potential risks and benefits, context, perspective, and practical considerations.
The course contains the following modules:
- Definitions of emotionally challenging or sensitive research
- Complexities, risks, and benefits of undertaking such research
- Positionality and its influence on emotionally challenging or sensitive research
- Challenges posed by both primary and secondary data in this context.
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Research with children and young people
This 1-hour course focuses on the unique responsibilities and ethical considerations when working with younger participants.
The course contains the following modules:
- Legal definitions of children and young people;
- Key ethical principles, and what they mean in practice;
- The concepts of consent, assent, and dissent;
- Participatory methods used in research with children and young people;
- Important considerations when using digital or online tools;
- Key ongoing ethical debates and challenges.
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Introduction to Research Integrity
This 3 to 4-hour course will help learners apply research integrity principles to strengthen good research practice and enhance the integrity of their work.
The course contains the following modules:
- Principles of research integrity;
- The UK’s research integrity guidelines, principles, and governance frameworks;
- Research integrity in practice: Research ethics, Data collection and management, Open research, Declaring competing interests, Collaborative working, Authorship, AI, Security;
- Fostering a culture of research integrity.
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Contact
For any query about the above courses, please contact the LSE Research Ethics team at research.ethics@lse.ac.uk