High responsibility: The ethics of researching a MOOC about research ethics Alison Foxa, Jim Askhamb and Rachel Tunstallb, The Open University and University of Leicester

We wanted: To research what participants said in response to activities based on a research ethics framework Why: To find out from a diverse group of people how the framework could be used and adapted The issue: How should we gain consent ethically from participants on a course about research ethics? Our options: Be transparent. Ensure all participants know our plans for their participation in a course and a research study from week 1 – would this restrict engagement/make them cross? Introduce the idea in week 1 that participants will be invited to consent to research in week 6 after they have been able to benefit from the course – would they opt out? Introduce the idea in week 1 that participants will be invited to consent to research in week 6. Create a learning opportunity reviewing T and C to discuss what turning from course to research participant feels like – would they opt out/feel cross/offer insights?

‘2. Research into participation in FutureLearn courses presents particular challenges with regard to obtaining consent. Participants must be clearly informed that their participation and interactions may be monitored and analysed for research.’ ‘4. …The contributions were made in the context of an ongoing course discussion. It would normally be expected that research into learner contributions should use anonymised data.’ ‘5. Ownership of data created by learners is a further challenge. Learners own content they create on the FutureLearn platform, which they license to FutureLearn and partners forever and irrevocably. It should be recognised that participants in courses have a moral right of identity with materials created in their name….’ (Extracts from FutureLearn Research Ethics policy)

Our MOOC

OUR RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. What ethical issues do participants on a MOOC exploring research ethics in the social sciences identify from their discussions about case study material?   2. What actions do participants on this MOOC propose in response to the identification of ethical issues? 3. In what ways can any diversity of views related to RQ1 and RQ2 be explained in terms of information provided by course participants? 4. In what ways can the above analysis inform the development and application of the ethical appraisal framework used to underpin the MOOC?

OUR DATA COLLECTION REQUESTS Anonymised use of your learner content offered to the course and held securely by FutureLearn through: comments to steps and through Twitter activity linked to #FLresearchethics Anonymised use of learner analytic data held securely by the Partner Institution in accordance with FutureLearn policies, including responses to quizzes and tests. Any anonymised email activity with course team members which results from participation in the course

WHAT WE SAID… OUR INTRODUCTION: Step 1.2 and week one email: We feel a responsibility on a course about ethics and data collection to recommend that you take some time familiarising yourselves with FutureLearn’s Terms and Conditions, to which you have already agreed. This is particularly relevant to your study of this course as we are proposing to carry out a research study. Your options to opt out of the study will be explained in Week 6. OUR REFLECTION POINT: Step 6.10: We have gained approval for a study on the basis of the earlier questions from our University ethical approval committee, as required by FutureLearn Research Ethics policy. So, what do you think about the proposition that we could, under the Terms and Conditions, collect and analyse the ‘learner content’ you have offered as well as learner analytic data collected behind the scenes about your activity on the site? OUR INFORMED CONSENT OPTIONS: We can offer you the chance to opt-out of requests 1 and 3 but NOT request 2, because the learner analytic data is already anonymized and cannot be linked to your learner content by name. If you are NOT happy to be involved in the use of your data for this research project in relation to requests 1 and 3 above, please follow the instructions below/overleaf…

‘I never really considered agreeing to terms and services and use of the Internet as falling under the definition of "data collection“’ (week 1) WHAT THEY SAID… ‘I don't think all deception is always unethical in research and some amount of deception may be necessary (or unavoidable) in order to prevent participants from holding back information’ (week 1) ‘I did question myself if we are taking part in a covert operation…ahem, I mean research study! ’ (week 2) ‘If questions/comments, posed/raised have contributed to this course, then these should form part of an enquiry into how the ethical framework has been used in this course.’ (week 6) ‘I agreed to whatever Terms and conditions without even looking at it. Now I'm skimming through the Terms and conditions for the very first time.’ (week 6) ‘Although I recognize the legality of having lengthy terms and conditions (in your case 6000 words) I severely question the ethical dimension of producing and using them when you know quite well few people read and understand them in the entirety…So in a way, your use of them in a course on ethics is itself unethical’ (week 6)

Issues arising When should we tell participants? How much should we tell participants? What are the pros and cons of ensuring participants know about the research at the start? What are the pros and cons of telling participants only at the start and reinforcing/explaining in week 6? Is opt-out consent sufficient? Should we offer anonymity or respect rights to participants’ content?

Contact: Alison Fox Alison. fox@open. ac Contact: Alison Fox Alison.fox@open.ac.uk WELS The Open University Walton Hall Milton Keynes MK7 6AA www.open.ac.uk