Ethics and Deontology in Research
The rapid developments in scientific research, both within and outside academic institutions, often bring to the surface ethical and deontological issues, such as the boundaries of research, the protection of personal data, and the utilization of research results. The establishment of ethical rules, as well as the creation of supervisory bodies and organizations in research centers and universities, testify to the need for a systematic effort. This effort aims to protect the independence of researchers on one hand and to observe ethically correct research practices in accordance with applicable national and international legislation on the other.
The Ethics and Deontology Committee in Research (ΕΠ.Η.ΔΕ.Ε.), which operates at the departmental level, guided by the Code of Ethics and Deontology in Research of the Democritus University of Thrace, has established scientific principles and rules for conducting research. The operating framework of the Ethics and Deontology Committee in Research (ΕΠ.Η.ΔΕ.Ε.) is in accordance with paragraph 1 of article 70 of Law 4485/2017. This paragraph stipulates that for research conducted in a school unit, permission may be granted by the General Assembly of the Department, given that it is a Pedagogical Department. In cases where the research is not conducted in a school unit, the applicant should submit a request, if necessary, to the Ethics and Deontology Committee of the D.U.TH. The possible approval of the request by the G.A. of the Department does not replace the need to obtain approval from the relevant primary or secondary education office respectively.
The Ethics and Deontology Committee in Research (ΕΠ.Η.ΔΕ.Ε.) comprises members of the Teaching and Research Staff (Δ.Ε.Π.) of the Department of Education Sciences in Early Childhood (Τ.Ε.Ε.Π.Η.) and they serve a six-month term. As responsible for monitoring compliance with research ethics by the Department’s researchers (undergraduate and postgraduate students, PhD candidates, post-doctorates, Department staff, etc.), the Ethics and Deontology Committee in Research (ΕΠ.Η.ΔΕ.Ε.) examines with particular attention and thoroughness the applications of the researchers. It grants a certificate of compatibility for the proposed research, which is carried out within the school unit, with the observance of scientific ethics, deontology, and righteousness.
Researchers are bound by the rules and principles that govern the operational framework of the Ethics and Deontology Committee in Research (ΕΠ.Η.ΔΕ.Ε.). Applications to the Ethics and Deontology Committee in Research (ΕΠ.Η.ΔΕ.Ε.) of the Department of Education Sciences in Early Childhood (Τ.Ε.Ε.Π.Η.) must be submitted before the start of the data collection process and sent to an email address specified by the Department. The Ethics and Deontology Committee in Research (ΕΠ.Η.ΔΕ.Ε.) makes a positive or negative recommendation to the General Assembly of the Department regarding the submitted application.