Development of Research Ethics in Law Students in the Process of Academic Communication at University

Abstract

The relevance of the problem of research ethics among law students is actualized by both external and internal factors, which in turn necessitates the search for effective means and methods for developing this quality in academic settings. The external contour is determined, first of all, by obvious changes in public life and its main areas, including education based on the transfer of information and knowledge in the context of globalization, digitalization and integration. In our study, these processes ar e considered as having both positive and negative impacts on education and its stakeholders (students, teachers, etc.).The positive aspects include, inter alia, the possibility to create a unified educational environment; harmonize educational standards; distribute and replicate innovative forms, methods and technologies aimed at improving the quality of higher education; support cross-border interdisciplinary initiatives and projects; expand means and channels of academic communication; strengthen cooperation in academic and research fields; increase institutional and staff competitiveness of universities on the world arena, etc.The negative aspect is associated with digital transformation on a global scale, although it has added visible advantages to education. However, quick and easy access to the World Wide Web (the Internet) and its multiple resources has led to an increase in cases of plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct among law students, which range from minor (copy & paste, paraphrase, summary, synthesis) to serious offenses (infringement of another's copyrights or violations of research ethics). Internal factors are mediated by external determinants and individual qualities, such as student's disposition and readiness to perceive new trends and realities and follow the ethical norms and standards of academic community.The purpose of this work is to analyze and identify the best strategies and methods to develop academic and research integrity on the basis of Russian universities. We proceeded from the fact that such integrity is achievable only in the unity of the recognition of important social, moral and ethical values and compliance with the norms and standards of academic communication and interaction, regardless of online or offline. To clarify the conceptual apparatus, we singled out and defined terminology related to research, ethics and integrity, namely: academic integrity, academic excellence, research ethics, research integrity, research norms, etc. For comparison, we also conducted a typological analysis of the forms and types of academic dishonesty and misconduct and formulated an action plan to reduce their incidence in the Russian academic community.The key finding of our study is the modeling of university spaces based on the moral code and ethical policy of academia associated with high standards of academic communication and research in accordance with the law.