Ethical Committee
The Ethics Committee of the Department of Media and Communication supports researchers who plan and conduct empirical research projects by advising them on, or reviewing, the ethical aspects of their proposed studies.
A brief introduction to the IfKW Ethics Committee
When planning and conducting empirical research projects, the focus is on maintaining ethical standards, protecting participants, and ensuring scientific integrity.
The Ethics Committee of the Department of Media and Communication (Institutional Review Board, IRB) will accompany you on this journey: It advises and evaluates research proposals with regard to all relevant ethical, legal, and data protection issues and provides an assessment of whether your project is compatible with recognized scientific ethical principles. In doing so, it makes a key contribution to ensuring that research is conducted responsibly, transparently, and in accordance with international standards.
Applications for ethical evaluations are welcome at any time.
Evaluation criteria of the Ethics Committee
In its assessment, the Ethics Committee is guided by established research ethics standards. Key criteria include, in particular , the protection of participants, clear and comprehensible informed consent, the minimization of potential risks or burdens , and the responsible handling of personal data in accordance with applicable data protection guidelines.
In addition, the Commission checks whether the research design is scientifically appropriate, whether vulnerable groups are given special protection, and whether procedures for anonymization, confidentiality, and secure data storage are clearly explained.
The aim is to ensure that research projects are planned and implemented in an ethically acceptable, transparent, and proportionate manner.
IRB Members
Janise Brück, M.A.
Academic Staff
Science communication • Science journalism • Science PR
Prof. Dr. Thomas Hanitzsch
Professor
Journalism research • journalism culture • comparative methodology
Rebecca Kammerer, M.A.
Academic Staff
Health Communication • Sociology of (Prison) Medicine • and Role Theory (with a focus on Role Conflicts)
Prof. Dr. Benjamin Krämer
Professor
Media reception • media history and media change • political communication • music in the media
Dr. Antonia Markiewitz
Academic Staff
Health communication (mental health • suicide/suicidality • social media & children/adolescents) • Journalism
Dr. Johanna Schindler
Postdoctoral Researcher
Media Use and Effects • Group Phenomena • Digital Communication
Ursula Kristin Schmid, M.A.
Academic Staff
Hate Speech • Humor • Medienwirkungsforschung
Prof. Dr. Neil Thurman
Professor
AI and automation in journalism • The online behaviour of media audiences • Journalists’ routines and attitudes