Examining Ethics in Contemporary Science Education Research: Being Responsive and Responsible (Cultural Studies of Science Education, Band 20) - Softcover

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Kathrin Otrel-Cass, Ph.D., is Professor teaching and learning and digital transformations at the University of Graz, Austria. Her research interests are often of interdisciplinary in nature with focus on digital visual anthropology and variety of qualitative, ethnographic methodologies. She works with various practitioners and experts in environments where people are working with science/technology/engineering practices or their knowledge products. Her research is often set in schools but is not exclusive to those environments. Her research interest in visual ethnography has led to the establishment of a video research laboratories at Aalborg University and the University of Graz with a focus on the organized analysis of video recorded data and ethical research practices involving visual data. Kathrin is also a member of the Human Factor in Digital Transformation research network at the University of Graz. 

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This book poses questions on how to work ethically in research on science education. Applying research ethics reflectively and responsibly is fundamental for conducting research with people. It seeks to renew the conversation on how and why to engage with ethics in science education research and to adjust and refine research practices. It highlights both the need for methodological reflections in science education research and the particular ethical research challenges of science education.

Science education research involves the study of people – often young and vulnerable people – and their practices. Researchers working within humanities and social science research commonly follow guidelines and codes of conducts set by country-specific ethics committees. Such guidelines function as minimal requirement for ethical reflection. This book seeks to engage the community of science education researchers in a conversation on ethics in science education moving beyond themere compliance with governmental regulations toward a collective reflection. It asks the question of whether the existing guidelines provided for researchers are keeping up with contemporary realities of the visual presence of individuals in digital spaces. It also asks questions on how participatory research methodologies alters the relations between researchers and practitioners.

This book is organized into two parts: Part one is entitled Challenging existing norms and practices. It asks questions such as: What are the conditions of knowledge that shape ethical decision making? Where is this kind of knowledge coming from? How is this knowledge structured, and where are the limitations? How can we justify our beliefs concerning our ethical research actions? Part two Epistemological considerations for ethical science education research centres norms and practices of conducting science education research in regard to methods, validityand scope.