The FeKoM project was realized by the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF and the Institute for Journalism at the TU Dortmund University; the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media supported individual project phases. The duration was three years and four months (2020-2024).

The subjects of empirical studies in communication and media research are characterized by a high degree of complexity and changeability. Social processes such as globalization and individualization raise new questions of research ethics, which need to be addressed in research and teaching. In addition, empirical methods are becoming increasingly complex and raise new questions such as informational self-determination and data protection.

The aim of the project was to formulate evidence-based recommendations for applied research ethics in communication and media research. These recommendations relate to quantitative studies. In addition, the project results were implemented within the scientific community and prepared as teaching material.

To achieve these goals, the project team worked with a complex mixed-methods design (expert interviews, online survey, group discussions and online experiments). In qualitative and quantitative studies, scientists and other experts as well as laypersons were interviewed about different aspects of research ethics, decision-making dilemmas, and expectations and evaluations of previous practices.

Empirical Approach

The FeKoM-Team made the qualitative and quantitative results available to the scientific community of communication and media research as well as to the wider university public via this project website, conferences, workshops, e-learning formats, and publications.