Law Ethics and e-Social Science

Law Ethics and e-Social Science (half day workshop)

Maternushaus, Cologne
Lambertus Room

A joint workshop sponsored by the Oxford e-Social Sciences Project and supported by the Next Generation Internet EPSRC Digital Economy Cluster

Workshop Organisers: Annamaria Carusi, Christopher Millard & Marina Jirotka

Abstract

The new possibilities for conducting social science research created by the tools and technologies of e-Social Science bring with them a number of ethical and legal challenges regarding data use and reuse, access, archiving and management. While e-social science tools and technologies are developing rapidly, they are also creating gaps and indeterminacies where it is not clear what ethical procedures or actions are appropriate. There are also often tensions and contradictions between different legal and institutional requirements, standards and conditions which researchers are expected to meet. Definitions of personal data and other key concepts are vague or inconsistent, and it is often unclear to researchers what constitutes compliance with the law. Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace provide exciting opportunities for innovative research initiatives yet the appropriateness of using such environments for e-research purposes is particularly uncertain and controversial. Disciplinary and ethics requirements can be further factors that make this a complex arena for project design and practical implementation.

The workshop will explore the current status of the law and of ethical guidelines as these relate to the conduct of e-social science and related areas, such as biomedical research. We will focus on examining the gaps that exist between current regulations and guidelines and the actual practices of e-social science researchers, and suggest ways in which the gaps might be closed or bridged. The workshop consists of a series of presentations, and a roundtable discussion. Each session will allow for interactive discussion, and the concluding roundtable will afford all participants an opportunity to discuss their own experiences, dilemmas, questions and responses.

Agenda

Time	Topic	Presenter
09:30	Introduction and background: Legal and ethical challenges encountered in e-Social Science	Annamaria Carusi, Oxford e-Social Sciences Project Marina Jirotka, Oxford e-Research Centre
09:50	Legally compliant use of personal data in e-social science	Christopher Millard, University of London and Oxford Internet Institute
10:15	Ethical Sharing and Reuse of Qualitative Data Sets	Libby Bishop, UK Data Archive and Timescapes Project, University of Leeds
10:40	Coffee Break
11:00	Anonymisation and pseudonymisation in large data sets for medical research (by video link)	David Trower, IMS Health
11:25	Ethical challenges for social networking research	Bernie Hogan, Oxford Internet Institute
11:50	Roundtable discussion: Privacy and IPR on the Next Generation Internet
12:50	Conclusion
13:00	Close