{"id":343,"date":"2020-06-30T07:17:42","date_gmt":"2020-06-30T04:17:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/help.jamk.fi\/opinnaytetyo\/project-plan-and-schedule\/good-scientific-practice-data-protection\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T14:46:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T11:46:17","slug":"good-scientific-practice-data-protection","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/help.jamk.fi\/opinnaytetyo\/en\/project-plan\/good-scientific-practice-data-protection\/","title":{"rendered":"5.3 Research integrity, data protection and research permit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Data protection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Familiarise yourself with data protection and the processing of personal data. In the thesis, data protection concerns the student preparing the thesis, the commissioner, potential research subjects and the written thesis complete with its research data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Identify if your data contains personal data. Personal data means<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>any information on a natural person and on their personal characteristics or personal circumstances, where these are identifiable as concerning them or the members of their family or household.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>all types of data that can be used to directly identify a natural person, but also data that can be used to identify a person indirectly (e.g. photos and voice recordings).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you process personal data, you must have a privacy statement. Remove any personal identifiers, i.e. anonymize the material as soon as it can be reasonably analysed without identifiers. See the data protection page in the intranet for more detailed instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, theses do not collect data belonging to <a href=\"https:\/\/tietosuoja.fi\/en\/processing-of-special-categories-of-personal-data\">special categories of personal data (Office of the data protection ombudsman)<\/a>. If this is going to be done, it should be considered in advance together with the supervisor and determine whether there is a storage location for such personal data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Research permit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are conducting research, you need to find out what special permits you will need. Discuss with a representative of the target organization or commissioner whether you need a research permit and how to apply for it. The research permit is always obtained from the organization to which the research pertains. Not all organizations require a separate research permit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are doing your thesis as part of a project group or other research group, first discuss the research permit with the project or research supervisors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a research permit is required, you cannot collect research data until you have an approved research permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jamk research permit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are researching Jamk, its students, or staff in your thesis or other research, or if you need archival or registry data from Jamk, you must apply for a research permit from Jamk well in advance before starting the research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The application must be accompanied by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>data management plan (mandatory)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>thesis privacy statement (If personal data is processed in the research)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Further information about the research permit and how to apply for it can be found from Jamk\u2019s Research Permit website (please, see the link below). Reserve about two weeks for the processing of the research permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instructions on creating a data management plan, see Chapter 4.4.6 Data management plan and processing of research data of this guide (please, see the link below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"accordion-block_6633384fa78f26b0964bb1c25bb34c60\" class=\"accordion block-accordion\">\n  <div class=\"block-accordion__element-header\">\n          <h2>Checklist: Ethical Issues in a Thesis<\/h2>\n      <\/div>\n  <div class=\"block-accordion__accordions\">\n                  <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-1\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-1\">\n              1. Select a thesis topic and research design that can be conducted ethically, with risks under control and results that are trustworthy. Keep your researcher role separate from your roles as an employee, student, or other community member              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-1\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-1\">\n              <p><b>Avoid causing harm and risks to people, activities, the organization, nature, the environment, and animals.<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be especially careful when studying children under 15 years of age, people with disabilities (small children, the elderly, people with intellectual disabilities) or other vulnerable subjects (including animals, depending on the setting).<\/li>\n<li>Avoid designs that interfere with physical integrity (e.g., measurements) \u2192 see ethical review.<\/li>\n<li>Harm can be physical, psychological, financial, etc., including disclosure of confidential information, breaches of privacy, or undue burden. Harm may be direct or indirect.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Avoid conflicts of interest:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do not, as a rule, study your close relations: never family, and only with strong justification friends, fellow students, a small work community, or other close community. Ensure that closeness does not bias the research.<\/li>\n<li>Close relationships may weaken data reliability and participants\u2019 freedom to refuse.<\/li>\n<li>Your work role (manager, developer, employee, trustee, etc.) may also influence interpretations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Examples of problematic settings:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Interviewing your fellow students or colleagues about wellbeing (may reveal sensitive health data)<\/li>\n<li>Studying leadership in your small work community without accounting for your role and prior knowledge<\/li>\n<li>Studying a family member\u2019s experiences of a service, support, or treatment<\/li>\n<li>Possible if you use a genuinely anonymous survey, the target group is large enough, you avoid personal data and sensitive themes, and you study the phenomenon at a general level.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Remember: work role \/ community member \/ student \/ close relation \u2260 researcher role.<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access to data in another role does not entitle you to use it for research.<\/li>\n<li>All research use requires permissions, consents, and data protection practices, even if you do not need them in your other role.<\/li>\n<li>Research on leadership, organizations, and technology often involves human participants \u2192 follow ethical principles of research with human participants (TENK).<\/li>\n<li>Could any information reveal identity directly or indirectly? Do my background and assumptions affect interpretation?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-2\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-2\">\n              2. Choose a research design that does not require an ethical review statement.              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-2\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-2\">\n              <ul>\n<li>According to TENK guidance, ethical review must be requested for certain demanding research designs from Jamk\u2019s ethics committee. Check the relevant designs: <a href=\"https:\/\/jamkstudent.sharepoint.com\/sites\/Organisaatio-ja-johtaminen-Elmo\/SitePages\/en\/Ethics-Committee.aspx#ethical-review-in-human-sciences-at-jamk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ethics committee and ethical review.<\/a><\/li>\n<li>At the thesis level, the research design must not be one that requires ethical review (research involving humans, or nature and the environment) because these are ethically more challenging than usual. Otherwise, the design must be changed.<\/li>\n<li>Only a Master\u2019s thesis may be part of research\/projects that require ethical review. In such cases, the responsible researcher or project manager primarily applies for the statement, and the thesis supervisor is always aware of the application.<\/li>\n<li>If required, an approved ethical review statement must have been issued before starting; otherwise, the thesis must be suspended and redesigned.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-3\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-3\">\n              3. Clarify the need for research permit before starting.              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-3\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-3\">\n              <ul>\n<li>Confirm with the target organization whether a research permit (or equivalent) is required and how to apply. Apply to the organization the research concerns. Some organizations do not require a separate permit.<\/li>\n<li>If the thesis is part of a project or other research, first discuss permits with those responsible: is a separate permit needed or do existing permits cover the thesis activities? A research permit may be required if the organization itself is studied or register\/archive data are needed.<\/li>\n<li>Public organizations (e.g., wellbeing services counties) are often strict about permits and application quality.<\/li>\n<li>If a research permit is required, it must be approved before data collection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Note: Applying for and receiving permits\/statements takes time and must be scheduled. For example, Jamk\u2019s research permit takes about two weeks, considering holiday periods.<\/p>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-4\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-4\">\n              4. Ensure you recognize what personal data or confidential information your thesis processes and what safeguards are required. Do not process special categories of personal data.              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-4\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-4\">\n              <ul>\n<li>Processing personal data is governed by legislation and cannot be bypassed.<\/li>\n<li>Have all personal data been identified? Any information that can identify a person directly or indirectly is personal data, including voice, images, or combinations of data. Open-ended survey\/interview answers may constitute personal data, especially with small sample sizes or background variables.<\/li>\n<li>Whenever you process personal data, you must prepare a privacy notice, request consent, store data appropriately, and delete it when the legal basis ends.<\/li>\n<li>As a student, you must not collect personal data that (directly or indirectly) include <a href=\"https:\/\/tietosuoja.fi\/en\/processing-of-special-categories-of-personal-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">special categories of personal data<\/a>. Doing so would require storage outside Jamk systems (e.g., CSC SD-services) and particularly careful information and data management.\n<ul>\n<li>Sensitive health data may arise when asking about wellbeing\/work ability or when the topic relates to diagnosis, via open-ended answers (+ background data) or interviews.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Confidential information includes trade secrets.<br \/>\nNote: A sensitive topic can be a thesis theme if the thesis does not process special categories of personal data or trade secrets; choose data collection and design so that (special categories of) personal data are not formed.<br \/>\nBe especially careful when AI is involved: as a rule, thesis\u2011related personal data must not be disclosed to AI tools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-5\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-5\">\n              5. Prepare a data management plan that addresses ethical issues and uses Jamk\u2011approved secure storage solutions.              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-5\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-5\">\n              <ul>\n<li>Jamk\u2019s thesis data management plan template is highly guiding and based on ready-made answer options.<\/li>\n<li>The template includes many other ethical considerations and steers you toward appropriate practices.<\/li>\n<li>As a rule, store data only using the options listed in Jamk guidance to ensure information security and long-term preservation. Do not use personal storage during the thesis process (e.g., a personal cloud account or your own computer storage).<\/li>\n<li>Ensure that data &#8211; including personal data &#8211; are stored or disposed of appropriately at the end.<\/li>\n<li>The privacy notice, participant information sheets, and data management plan must not contradict each other.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/help.jamk.fi\/opinnaytetyo\/en\/project-plan\/data-management-plan\/\">Read the instructions: 5.2 Data management plan and processing<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-6\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-6\">\n              6.  Remember to inform participants and request consent to participate in the study.              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-6\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-6\">\n              <ul>\n<li>Before consent, inform participants clearly and in language suitable for the target group: how and why the study will be conducted, the roles of participant and researcher, possible risks, and how risks are avoided.<\/li>\n<li>Always request consent from participants to take part in the study\/thesis.<\/li>\n<li>Consent must be obtained before interviews, at the start of an online survey, before observation, or before collecting samples. A thesis should not involve research where consent cannot be requested.<\/li>\n<li>It is not enough to have permission from the background organization (research permit or other consent); you need the participant\u2019s active consent.<\/li>\n<li>Consent to participate and consent to process personal data are different, but they can be collected in the same document as separate sections.<\/li>\n<li>Written consent is recommended (paper or electronic form).<\/li>\n<li>If you as the thesis author have too close a relationship with the participant, it may affect the participant\u2019s freedom to refuse.<\/li>\n<li>Jamk&#8217;s research subject consent form<strong> template<\/strong>, including the option to ask for consent to the processing of personal data, is available for download from this page. Modify it as needed, taking into account the target group and the method of implementation of your thesis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-7\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-7\">\n              7. Recognize limitations and possible uses of AI in a thesis. Describe AI use transparently and, when necessary, mention it in the privacy notice.              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-7\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-7\">\n              <ul>\n<li>The same ethical principles and responsible conduct of research (RCR) apply to AI use as to other activities.<\/li>\n<li>Describe AI use in its different forms transparently; identify its impact on data (collection, classification, etc.) and analysis. Understand how tools work (where data are stored, whether used for model training, personal data processing) and inform participants insofar as it is relevant.<\/li>\n<li>As a student, you should primarily use Jamk\u2019s approved AI tools while signed in.<\/li>\n<li>Do not input unfinished thesis content into open language models (e.g., for summarizing or commenting), as this may leak work online.<\/li>\n<li>Binding guidance: The use of AI in research: RCR and ethical principles (TENK 2026).<\/li>\n<li>Jamk guidance: <a href=\"https:\/\/help.jamk.fi\/tekoaly\/en\/ethical-considerations-when-using-ai\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ethical use of AI \u2013 Responsible AI use at Jamk<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-8\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-8\">\n              8. Understand what misconduct or disregard for RCR means in a thesis and the consequences. The work is checked with plagiarism detection.              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-8\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-8\">\n              <ul>\n<li>Jamk Ethical Principles describe forms of misconduct and disregard and how they are handled.<\/li>\n<li>Typical forms: plagiarism (presenting others\u2019 content as your own), self-plagiarism, presenting AI-generated content as your own, falsification of observations\/results, fabrication or distortion of data (including generating data with AI).<\/li>\n<li>If serious misconduct\/disregard is suspected, a report is made. If confirmed, the student may receive a rector\u2019s warning and the thesis must be redone partly or entirely. In particularly serious, repeated cases, a student may be dismissed for a fixed period. The duration of the suspension is always at least one semester, but no more than one year. This may affect, for example, student financial aid and residence permit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-9\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-9\">\n              9. Ensure that all required agreements have been made.              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-9\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-9\">\n              <ul>\n<li>Read the instructions: <a href=\"https:\/\/help.jamk.fi\/opinnaytetyo\/en\/commissioner-and-thesis-topic\/\">3 Commissioner and thesis topic<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-10\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-10\">\n              10. Recognize authorship, including when using AI and when the thesis will be published separately.              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-10\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-10\">\n              <ul>\n<li>A thesis is a work whose copyright belongs to you as a student.<\/li>\n<li>Authorship requires a substantial contribution to ideation and planning, data collection, or analysis and interpretation (including separate publications based on the thesis).<\/li>\n<li>Authorship of the thesis must always remain with the student. Excessive or inappropriate use of AI may mean that authorship is no longer created, which is unacceptable and may lead to suspicion of misconduct or disregard.<\/li>\n<li>Agree on the partner organization\u2019s usage rights in the thesis agreement. When publishing thesis results, the partner should state that they were produced in a thesis project and credit the student and supervisors as good practice requires.<\/li>\n<li>If thesis results are published in another format (e.g., an article), agree on authorship\/writing credits in advance (based on TENK guidance on authorship in scholarly publications).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-11\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-11\">\n              11. Remember that a thesis is a public document.              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-11\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-11\">\n              <ul>\n<li>All of the thesis cannot be confidential. However, a thesis may contain some confidential information (e.g., the commissioner\u2019s trade secrets). Typically, the results (or part of the results) are confidential. The confidential sections are placed in the appendices of the thesis. There must be a legal basis for the confidentiality of the appendices; inform partners as needed.<\/li>\n<li>Instructions: <a href=\"https:\/\/help.jamk.fi\/opinnaytetyo\/en\/thesis\/publicity\/\">1.5 Publicity and copyrights of the thesis<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-12\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-12\">\n              12. Disclose any thesis\u2011related funding and other relevant conflicts of interest.              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-12\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-12\">\n              <ul>\n<li>Relevant conflicts of interests include employment with the organization under study, funding (e.g., project funding) or grants with an interest in the topic, shareholdings\/ownership in a company, close relationships (family\/friends) with people involved in the work, positions of trust (e.g., board membership, expert group membership), and other interests that may influence perspectives.<\/li>\n<li>You do not need to separately report a customary fee received from the thesis commissioner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n              <div class=\"accordion-item\">\n          <h2 class=\"h6 accordion-title\">\n            <button id=\"accordion-header-13\" class=\"accordion-header\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"accordion-panel-13\">\n              + If Your Thesis Uses Social Media              <div class='plus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M8.92 7.1V.06H7.2V7.1H.12v1.72H7.2v7.12h1.72V8.82H16V7.1H8.92z\" fill=\"#0D004C\"\/><\/svg><\/div>              <div class='minus-icon' itemprop='logo'><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 2\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M14 1.88H.88V.12H14v1.76z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg><\/div>            <\/button>\n          <\/h2>\n          <div class=\"accordion-section-wrapper\">\n            <section id=\"accordion-panel-13\" class=\"accordion-panel\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-header-13\">\n              <p>Please note the following if your thesis collects material via social media or, for example, a survey or interview invitation is forwarded on social media:<\/p>\n<p><b>Summary of key risks and how to avoid them<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Terms of service violations and information security<\/strong> \u2192 legal consequences, data leakage \u2192 Review platform terms. If sharing invitations on an organization\u2019s social media, request permission, provide sufficient information, and do not target children or vulnerable groups. Data must be stored in Jamk\u2011approved systems; do not use platform survey tools.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Processing personal data<\/strong> without a legal basis\/consent when data originate from social media \u2192 privacy breaches \u2192 Identify direct and indirect personal data; as a rule, avoid collecting personal data from social media. If collecting personal data, ensure consent can be requested and prepare a privacy notice. Avoid direct quotations from social media discussions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Using minors\u2019 content<\/strong> \u2192 high ethical risk. For commenters\/content creators under 15, inform guardians and ensure guardian consent \u2192 Avoid using minors\u2019 social media content in a thesis.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Copyright infringement<\/strong> \u2192 restricts publishing \u2192 Recognize that uploaded images\/text\/videos may be copyrighted \u2192 Respect copyright, cite original sources, and quote copyrighted material appropriately. Do not quote or use content from private individuals\u2019 accounts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Causing harm to participants or to the thesis author<\/strong> \u2192 e.g., sensitive topics, privacy breaches, online hate speech exposure \u2192 Identify realistic risks and mitigation; define how to act if risks materialize. Narrow the topic and implementation to reduce risk.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lack of ethical review<\/strong> when the approved topic would require it \u2192 thesis not accepted\/published \u2192 Choose a design that does not require ethical review according to Jamk\u2019s guidelines.<\/li>\n<li>Based on University of Jyv\u00e4skyl\u00e4 guidance: Ethical challenges of studying <strong>closed social media groups<\/strong> are likely too extensive for UAS or Master\u2019s thesis data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Eilo, H., Falin, P., Harju, A., Huuskonen, S., Kohonen, I., Laine, K., &amp; Satama, M. (2026). N\u00e4k\u00f6kulmia sosiaalisen median eettiseen ja vastuulliseen tutkimukseen. Zenodo.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5281\/zenodo.18386110\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.5281\/zenodo.18386110<\/a><\/p>\n            <\/section>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As a student, you must concretely understand, among other things, through the above-mentioned themes, what constitutes good research practice and research ethics in a thesis. The ethical reflection included in the thesis plan and thesis consists of these themes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These guidelines are based on Jamk&#8217;s ethical principles, TENK&#8217;s <em>Finnish Code of Conduct for Research Integrity<\/em> (2023) and the <em>The ethical principles of research with human participants and ethical review in the human sciences in Finland<\/em> guidelines (2019)  This list is also based on the following recommendations: <a href=\"https:\/\/arene.fi\/julkaisut\/raportit\/opinnaytetoiden-eettiset-suositukset\/\">Ethical recommendations for thesis writing at universities of applied sciences (Arene 2025)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Data protection Research permit If you are conducting research, you need to find out what special permits you will need. Discuss with a representative of the target organization or commissioner whether you need a research permit and how to apply for it. The research permit is always obtained from the organization to which the research [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":79,"featured_media":0,"parent":316,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[1330,1336,1342,1348],"class_list":["post-343","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-uncategorized-en","tag-a-good-scientific-practice-en","tag-data-protection-en","tag-disciplinary-procedure-en","tag-ethical-principles-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>5.3 Research integrity, data protection and research permit - Opinn\u00e4ytety\u00f6<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/help.jamk.fi\/opinnaytetyo\/en\/project-plan\/good-scientific-practice-data-protection\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fi_FI\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5.3 Research integrity, data protection and research permit - Opinn\u00e4ytety\u00f6\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Data protection Research permit If you are conducting research, you need to find out what special permits you will need. 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