Manifesto of P2P Ethics

The Manifesto of P2P Ethics (by Markus Petz - please do develop this)

Preamble

When we interact with others we need to do it in an ethical way to be effective and fair. P2p has its own internal logic that should be reflected in framing the ethical path we follow. Here are some principles that do that.

Self

Group

Research

Links looked at to help develop this:

http://p2pfoundation.net/6._P2P_in_the_Sphere_of_Culture_and_Self

http://hastac.org/blogs/jennamcwilliams/principles-ethical-educational-research

http://www.nyu.edu/projects/nissenbaum/ethics_ess.html

I STARTED to make this based on doing a Manifesto for Applied Development Research:

Manifesto of Ethical Applied Development Research Principles

I will accord with: The Manifesto of P2P Ethics, principles for ethical educational research and the Internet Research Ethics.

Specifically this means:

- My work is done for the needs and interests of both the learners and the educators working inside of my chosen learning communities.

- I will try and meet the needs of what they want, and take them at their word.

- I shall not offer prescriptive nor proscriptive – this is the answer type responses - and not, for example, guess that if they knew more about the world they'd want something different. Notwithstanding this I will express my truthful opinion if asked for it or when giving final recommendations if at an appropriate place in the research, publication, practice circle.

- I am not to decide whether a community's interests are good or right; it's only my job to work in service of those communities.

- I will represent my work in ways that support ethical decisions by policymakers, external stakeholders and those who participate in my research. Further to this I will outline the risks / benefits as far as I am aware to participants, stakeholders and funders at regular and appropriate times before, during and after the research.

- All applied development research is social activism, and as such a researcher I am a social activists. There is no such thing as politically neutral applied development research. Thus I will endeavor to make my belief system clear, to myself , the communities, individuals and stakeholders I will work with.

- I will refrain from research or procedures that the community does not want and with any individual. I will allow them to withdraw their cooperation or consent at any stage of the research. This means they must have given their consent to withdraw it, where possible I will try to obtain explicit consent before engaging with individuals, where implicit consent is given I will make it clear that, the research is only valid after explicit consent is given and a priori research has not been consented to and will be discarded.

- I will make my research aims, procedures and interactions with others transparent, open and useful as far as I can respecting confidentiality and protecting vulnerable people or groups of people who I may interact with. I will inform appropriately to do this.

- I will conduct research and methods in cognisance of ecological, socio-cultural and economic sustainabilities. My aim will be that the products of research are distributed with justice.

- I shall research with an awareness of the distinction between private and public and not regard the private as automatically public. So for example taking photos in a public place does not make those photos public just because they are not legally controlled. The same principle applies to methods, patentable products or procedures I may encounter in my research.