For Lesson four of OTL201 I have decided to highlight two activities that were incorporated into RSMT 3501, Introduction to Research Methods. One of the activities, the Tri-Council Tutorial on Research Ethics tutorial (TCPS 2: Core tutorial), is introduced in Module 1 of the course but is a component of the student’s Major Project. The Tri-Council represents NSERC, SSERC and CIHR, Canada’s three research funding bodies and all studies they fund must adhere to strict animal and human subject ethics protocols. The second activity was taken from Module 2, having students learn the importance of sample size in research studies. These activities are taken from the courses Blackboard Learn site at:
The description for the TCPS tutorial from the course, the topic for this post, follows.
“Introduction
During the next lesson, we will continue to examine research ethics. One of your main activities for the course will be to review and complete the TCPS 2: CORE tutorial, http://tcps2core.ca/welcome.
This activity will take you at least six hours to complete. You may want to take time this week to start the tutorial. This is an important component of the course which will inform how you approach research and research questions throughout, so it is suggested that you complete it as soon as possible. However, since it requires a large time commitment, this component of the final project will be due at the end of Module 2, though it is suggested that you complete it earlier.
TCPS 2: CORE Tutorial
Research with humans must be done using standards that meet the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS 2).
The Tri-Council has created the TCPS 2: CORE (Course on Research Ethics) online tutorial athttp://tcps2core.ca/welcome to provide researchers with an overview of the standards. This highly interactive tutorial provides you with a thorough foundation in ethics that is applicable to all disciplines and methodologies. The tutorial includes case studies, examples for you to work through, and quizzes. You are expected to complete all website interactive components, as doing so will assist you with learning key ideas, such as the three core principles of TCPS 2 and learning the terminology, and provide you with a reference for future consultation. Completing the tutorial will also give you an idea of what you must be aware of when creating a research proposal.
In addition, a study guide is available for you to download from their site has been created for you to help guide you through the tutorial. Click here to download the TCPS 2 Study Guide.
To complete this tutorial, first create an account at the TCPS 2: CORE website, http://tcps2core.ca/welcome.
- At the site, click CREATE ACCOUNT.
- On the next page, click Create new account here.
- For Affiliation, select Other.
- For Please specify Affiliation, type Thompson Rivers University.
- For Email, use your @tru.caemail address.
- Activate TCPS 2: CORE when you receive the email with the activation link.
- You will be asked to participate in a pre-questionnaire—it is your decision whether or not you want to participate.
- Also, you may need to download the most current version of Adobe Flash Player.
TCPS 2: CORE recommends that first-time users read its User Guide, which provides tips for first-time users on navigating the modules. Also, there is an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) link and a glossary of acronyms and research terms. The tutorial has eight modules. As you work through the tutorial, the site automatically provides links, on its Dashboard, to your place in the tutorial.
Upon completion of the online tutorial, you will receive a certificate (as a PDF) from the TCPS 2: CORE website. Download and submit the certificate to your Open Learning Faculty Member. Completion of this certificate will be worth 5% of the Final Project’s total mark and is required to complete the course.”
RSMT 3501 introduces students to evaluate published research and design their own research projects. Given that all credible studies must follow ethics guidelines set out by national, provincial or state and institutional standards, this activity is invaluable. The Tri-Council resource is available to students for their life-long research endeavours.
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