When we talk about research ethics, we mean acting ethically and following responsible and correct practices.
At Lapland University of Applied Sciences, both staff and students are committed to complying with the guidelines of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK.
The ethical starting points of thesis work are examined in more detail in your own field’s methodological studies.
The key ethical principles related to the thesis and your own activities as a thesis author are the following:
Disqualification
Disqualification refers to whether you have a relationship with the subject matter, its parties or persons otherwise affected by the decision in the matter that may compromise your impartiality. In terms of disqualification, it is enough that impartiality may have been objectively deemed compromised.
Commission agreement
The UAS’s theses are working life-oriented and develop working life, and thus cooperation with professional life is carried out throughout the entire commissioned thesis process. A cooperation agreement between three parties, i.e. the commissioner, the UAS and the student, containing the main rules for thesis work, is always made before starting a thesis. There must always be a written commission commitment for a commissioned thesis.
Preliminary ethical assessment or research permit
As soon as the topic and method of implementation of the thesis have been determined, it is advisable to consider the ethics of the work with the supervisor, if necessary, and whether preliminary ethical assessment and/or research permits are required. If the thesis is planned to be implemented in a way that falls within the scope of preliminary ethical assessment, e.g. through medical or human science research, the student will apply for preliminary assessment from the Ethics Committee together with their supervisor
Sometimes a research permit is also required. Some organisations wish to apply for a permit using their own form, but if such a form is not available, you can use Lapland UAS’s own research permit form.
If you study matters related to the personnel and/or students of Lapland UAS, you always need a research permit, which you apply for from the principal.
Processing of personal data (data protection)
Personal data refers to information describing a natural person, their characteristics or their living conditions which can be identified as relating to them, their family or their household. The definition of personal data includes personal data that can be used to identify a person directly, but also data that can be used to identify a person indirectly (tenk.fi).
Read Lapland UAS’s Data protection and thesis guide
Public nature of the thesis
A thesis to be evaluated is always public, unless it is confidential under laws concerning publicity or other matters. A thesis can only be kept confidential in very exceptional cases. Confidentiality must always be based on a clear legal provision (Act on the Openness of Government Activities, section 24, 621/1999). This may be the case, for example, for a thesis about preparing for exceptional circumstances, or equipping or placing armed forces. The theses are published in Theseus, which provides UAS theses online. It is good to discuss the publicity of the thesis with the commissioner already when negotiating the commission.
Ethical use of information
- The ethical use of information involves the correct marking of source references. You can find instructions for this on the library’s website. The correct marking of source references is taught early on in the planning stage.
- If you utilise ready-made images, patterns or other similar material in your thesis, always check the copyrights related to them. In Kopiraittila Academy, you can learn the basic concepts of copyright, such as what rights copyright gives to the author and when a permission is needed to use works.
- In the planning stage of the thesis, you can already read the ImagOA guide, for example, where you will find information about the use of images and the Creative Commons (CC) licenses.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism refers to presenting the text or idea of another person in one’s own written work in such a way that the source is not expressed. In this case, the text and ideas contained therein are considered to have been created by the student themself. Plagiarism is prohibited by copyright law. At Lapland UAS, all theses are subject to a plagiarism check using the Ourginal plagiarism detection system.
In addition to plagiarism, good scientific practice also defines the broader concept of usurpation. Usurpation refers to the unauthorised presentation or use of another person’s research result, idea, plan, observations or material in one’s own name.
Suspected fraud
If the author of the thesis has violated good scientific practice, this will be reported in writing. The matter will be handled in accordance with degree regulations and ethical principles
More information about the TENK checklist for students and instructors
Examples of good sources for examining the ethical basis of your thesis are:
- The Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences, Arene, has compiled recommendations for UASs on ethical and good scientific practice in the thesis process. The recommendations are based on legislation and the scientific community’s international and national ethical research principles, guidelines and recommendations.
- UASs have also committed to comply with the Responsible conduct of research and procedures for handling allegations of misconduct in Finland guidelines (TENK 2012) of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity (TENK). TENK is an expert body of the Ministry of Education and Culture that promotes good scientific practice, prevents scientific fraud, and promotes debate and information about research ethics.
- On TENK’s pages, you can also find more information on preliminary ethical evaluation, for example
- In addition, Arene has published ethical guidelines for theses. After reviewing them, you will be able to identify some of the ethical premises related to your own thesis.