Dr. Sharpe's talk was an insightful introduction to a topic in which I have minimal formal experience. His explanation of the history of research codes and ethical considerations, dating to the mid 20th century, was incredibly interesting. Along with his discussion of the evolution of ethical standards and research procedures, he was very attune to the idea that codes will keep developing and changing. I had never really thought about that before, but it made me realize the importance of being very rigorous and sensitive to these standards, and to keep in mind historical examples of ethical choices which would not meet the standards today, in order to make the best informed choice about a process that might withstand future judgement (to a certain extent at least).
In my research proposal (studying the role of libraries in contributing to patrons' DIY projects and interests, by supplying tools for gardening, home maintenance, repairs, construction, and more), I propose in my methodology, contacting library staff to inquire about their practices. This may involve asking about the community they support, and they kinds of tools and services their patrons use or would be interested in using (this might depend on age, language skills, general interest, location, and more). By doing so, I need to determine what the most appropriate route would be to gather this information, including the correct consent and protection procedures, which would require consulting the protocols of UofT's research ethics. Dr. Sharpe provided a clearer vision in what can seem like a murky landscape of ethics, by establishing some key fundamentals.
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