RSDP: Research Ethics

It is well established in the realm of academia that a researcher will not be able to produce reliable and valid findings without following some ethical rules, otherwise known as the codes of ethics. Today almost all universities and prominent research institutions require that the research be reviewed according to ethical regulations and be scrutinised by an established ethical committee. Fabian Zhilla, a PhD Candidate at King’s College London, delivered a presentation on the aims and objectives of ethics in research. His approach was based on the Kings College requirements and on that of British Society of Criminology. Fabian elucidated some of his procedural experience he went through for his ethical application to get approved. He also illustrated how difficult in practice is to follow ethical rules while at the field work. Fabian has just arrived from his field work in Albania were he conducted around fifty interviews with elite (i.e. judges, procurators, advocates, politicians, academics etc), did archival research for three weeks and observed courts for two weeks in four main areas of the country.
Biography:
Fabian is a PhD candidate at King's College London, School of Law. Fabian’s project analyses the roots of judicial corruption in Albania and the Western Balkans and seeks to explore the reasons why reforms are not yielding more concrete results. Fabian is a visiting tutor at King's College on criminology. He is also teaching financial crime at London Metropolitan University. Fabian is an associated researcher of the International State Crime Initiative at Kings College and part of the secretariat for the Annual International Symposium on Economic Crime hosted by University of Cambridge. His thoughts are being presented regularly in the Albanian media through his writings and analysis mainly focused on sensitive political issues and policies. Before arriving at Kings, Fabian has visited other universities such as Georgetown University and George Washington University.