Instructions

Preparation for the VIRT2UE training

Instructions for:TraineeTrainer

Goal

This instruction will provide you with an overview of all the necessary steps that you will need to take to prepare for the VIRT2UE training.

Requirements

You need to have a background in research (i.e. be employed as researchers) or be a trainer/educator/teacher who has had experience in research in the past. You need to have a basic understanding of, and real interest in, research integrity.

Duration (hours)

9

For whom is this important?

ResearchersResearch integrity trainersTrainers in training

Method

Blended learning eLearning

Part of

VIRT2UE

Steps

What is this about?

This blended learning training program will enable you to develop knowledge of the main issues and concepts of research integrity and support you in developing the didactical competencies necessary to conduct a train-the-trainer course on research integrity. The principles and practices outlined in the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (ECoC) underpin the content of the training and constitute the main reference point for supporting good research practices. The training takes a virtuebased approach and aims at cultivating intrinsic motivations to engage in good research practices, and providing the skills and knowledge to foster the same attitude in others. At the same time, the training aims at ‘passing the expertise’ and to support you in developing an attitude and didactical competencies of a trainer who will train others. The online materials are designed for individual learning and reflection, and will enable you to identify your own aspirations and motives as a researcher, whereas the face-to-face training will entail interactive, reflective and problem-solving group activities. During the training, you will experience the five participatory exercises which form the core of the programme. These can be adapted for teaching in various contexts and are based on an educationally sound relationship between virtue ethics and research integrity.

Why is this important?

This training builds on the assumption that moral character is crucial to research integrity and can be cultivated by experience and example. In this training you will be invited to reflect on your role as a future trainer and educator in promoting a virtuebased approach to research integrity. At the same time, you will become acquainted with tools to encourage reflection in others on the intrinsic values of research and on the character traits which predispose researchers to do research with integrity. Doing research with integrity is often more challenging than it appears at first sight. Researchers may face difficult ethical decisions, often in the form of moral dilemmas. In the training, you will be supported to develop knowledge and skills which enable you to facilitate a process of reflection among others on personal experiences. In order to do so you learn first to reflect on your own cases and questions, and you will be encouraged to ask yourself: what kind of researcher do I need to be in order to act with integrity? What are the character traits, such as honesty or curiosity, that might support me to do research with integrity in a morally challenging situation? Next, you will acquire expertise to foster this in others, especially other trainers in research integrity.

1

Identify the learning goals of the training

After taking part in this training you will be able to:

Distinguish between responsible conduct of research, research misconduct, and questionable research practices and link this to the ECoC.
Understand and apply the ECoC in the context of one’s national context and discipline(s).
Develop knowledge and skills to apply and adapt exercises that help researchers to cultivate scientific virtues while reflecting on concrete cases and dilemmas. Instructions for trainees VIRT2UE has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research program under the grant agreement N 787580 4
Develop a predisposition to cultivate virtues, and know how to act upon those virtues in concrete situations and complex moral dilemmas.
Develop didactical competences necessary to 2. organize and implement a VIRT2UE training.

2

Learn about the structure of the training

The training is composed of three elements: 1) online materials and 2) face-to-face meetings (divided into two sessions) 3) practice in one’s own context. Trainees should invest about 60 hours in total (see below for an overview).


	Content	Time
Online course	Introduction to research integrity and virtue ethics, the ECoC and the main concepts used during the training + Reflection on personal experiences	4 h
Preparatory assignments	Completing the assignments in preparation for the face-to-face training	5 h
First participatory session(s)	Experiencing the exercises and reflecting on how to facilitate exercises	16 h
Interim practice work	Practicing the exercises in own institution/ context + preparing for follow up session	27 h
Follow -up participatory sessions	Reflecting on and discussing experiences + Practicing selected exercises + Discussion of didactical implementation in own context	8 h

3

Take the online modules - 4h

To start with a common terminology and knowledge, the online modules provide a basic understanding of the concepts used in the course. These concepts include research integrity, virtues, values, norms, moral dilemma and moral conflict, and how these concepts interrelate within the research environment. The sequence of the following online modules reflects the level of difficulty (from more basic to more advanced). Each subsequent module builds upon prior knowledge gained in the previous module (click on the title to access the module):

(1) Introduction to research integrity: a module that introduces the basic principles of research integrity and asks you to apply the ECoC to your own context.

(2) Relevance of virtue ethics to research integrity - an introduction: a module that introduces the relevance of virtue ethics for research integrity and asks you to reflect on research integrity issues.

(3) Virtue ethics applied under current research conditions: a module that addresses more systemic issues, like pressure to perform in research, and relates these to virtue ethics and the individual experience as a researcher.

4

Complete the assignments and readings for the first face-to-face session – 5h

To prepare for the face-to-face session you will:

a. Read the following theme pages on The Embassy of Good Science

I. Virtues in research integrity

II. Moral conflict and moral dilemma

III. Values and norms

IV. Dialogue versus debate

b. Read the instruction manuals of the exercises that will be experienced and facilitated during the training (click on the title to see the manual)

I. Self-declaration approach: a reflection on the varieties of goodness in research

II. Debate and dialogue

III. Virtues and norms

IV. The middle position

V. Dilemma game

c. Fill in the following forms and send them to your trainer within the established deadline:

I. Self-declaration sheet, (will be sent to you by your trainer)

II. Case reflection form, (will be sent to you by the trainer)

Steps

1Set the dates and program for your training

2Divide tasks

3Plan the training schedule and time in between the participatory sessions