Data management for thesis

Reasearch ethics and data

Research ethics is part of good data management. Thesis data must be collected and handled in accordance with research ethics principles.

Theses are subject to the same general ethical principles as other research conducted in Finland:

• the researcher respects the human dignity and right to self-determination of the persons being researched
• the researcher respects tangible and intangible cultural heritage and natural diversity
• the researcher conducts research in such a way that it does not cause significant risks, damages or harm to the people being researched, the community or other research subjects

Responsible conduct of research

Responsible conduct of research is a set of guidelines aimed at ensuring that research is conducted ethically and that research results are credible. Responsible conduct of research applies not only to scientific research itself but also to theses, teaching, and guidance in higher education institutions.

Metropolia, like other universities, is committed to adhering to responsible conduct of research. Any observed violation of responsible conduct of research may serve as a basis for rejecting a thesis.

The adherence to responsible conduct of research in Finland is monitored by the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity (TENK), which serves as a common ethical body for higher education institutions. The Board has also defined violations of responsible conduct of research.

Research involving human subjects

When a thesis involves human subjects, such as collecting data from individuals participating in the research, it is important to consider the ethical principles of research with human participants, obtain any necessary research permits, inform and obtain consent from the participants, and comply with laws regarding the processing of personal data.

Do you need a research permit?

Before you collect any material, it is important to examine what permits and consents are needed for data collection. If the research targets the operations of an organisation (e.g. hospital, educational institution, company), a permit for carrying out the research must usually be requested from the organisation. This is in accordance with responsible conduct of research.

The permit procedures and the prerequisites for obtaining a permit vary among organizations. Larger organizations, such as universities, often have their own research permit application, which can be found on the organization's website. If the organization does not have a separate research permit application, contact a representative of the organization to request a research permit.

A research permit is also required when the research is directed towards Metropolia. Below is a link to Metropolia's research permit application.

Please note that a research permit obtained from the organization does not replace the consent provided by the research participants. Each participant decides individually whether to participate in the research, such as an interview or survey, and gives their consent personally.

Informing the research participants and obtaining their consent

A key research ethical principle is that participation in the study is voluntary. Therefore, the research participant should be clearly and comprehensibly informed about the following:

• The objectives and content of the research.
• The researchers involved and any relevant affiliations or conflicts of interest (such as funders and sponsors).
• The practical implementation of the research, including what participation in the study entails.
• Potential harms and risks associated with participation.
• The handling of the participants' personal data.
• The intended lifecycle of the collected research data, including its processing and storage.

The research participant should be provided with the following:

• The aforementioned information in a written or electronic form, in a language that they understand.
• Sufficient time for consideration before making a decision about participation.
• Answers to any research-related questions they may have.

During the process of informing the research participant, a privacy notice can also be presented when collecting personal data.

Once the research participant has understood the nature of the research, they can provide informed consent to participate and to the processing of their personal data. If there is a desire to reuse or publish the data after the completion of the thesis, it is advisable to seek permission from the participants at this stage as well. Obtaining permission retrospectively can be challenging or even impossible.

The research participant has the right to participate voluntarily, as well as the right to refuse participation without fear of negative consequences. They also have the right to withdraw from participation or revoke their consent without providing a specific reason. The discontinuation does not prevent the continued use of the data collected up until that point in the research.

The research participant should be aware that they are being studied, particularly in situations where the researcher also has another role in relation to them, such as a supervisor or teacher.