Ethics and Politics in Social Research Bryman: Social Research Methods: 3e Chapter 5 Ethics and Politics in Social Research Authored by Susie Scott 1

Introduction unresolved debates about the role of values in social research emphasis on infamous, extreme cases ethical issues pervade all research methods professional associations BSA - Statement of Ethical Practice SRA - Ethical Guidelines ethics committees See page 113 2

Ethical stances Universalism Situation ethics absolute rules about un/acceptable conduct Situation ethics case-by-case assessment principled relativism the end justifies the means? no choice? See page 116 3

Ethical stances Ethical transgression is pervasive virtually all research involves some ethically questionable practices participants never fully informed about research Anything goes (more or less) do whatever is necessary to get people to talk Douglas (1976): deception in social research is relatively trivial Denzin (1968): but do not harm participants See page 116 4

Ethical principles Harm to participants physical, psychological, emotional, stress, loss of self-esteem, harm to development, and ‘uncalled-for self knowledge’ (BSA) e.g. Rosenthal & Jacobson (1968) disadvantaged the intellectual development of non-spurters? e.g. Milgram (1963) electric shocks experiment: stress and anxiety? confidential records - risk of identifying information ethnographic studies of small towns or groups See page 118 5

Ethical principles Informed consent covert observation: participants not given choice to refuse e.g. Humphreys (1970) - ‘watchqueen’ in a ‘tearoom’ e.g. Holdaway (1982, 1983) - undercover in a police force explain the research as fully as possible and in terms meaningful to participants (BSA) informed decision about whether to participate but may not be practicable or desirable to inform all participants See page 121 6

Ethical principles Informed consent BSA/SRA professional codes do condone some covert observation where it is impossible to use other methods to obtain essential data e.g. deviant behaviour, gaining access to closed settings, avoiding problem of reactivity decisions often made on the basis of anticipated rather than actual difficulty if non-consenting participants are harmed, researcher is more culpable See page 122 7

Ethical principles Invasion of privacy linked to informed consent but giving consent does not equal abrogating the right to privacy covert observation: no opportunity to refuse anonymity and confidentiality of data records of personal information See page 123 8

Ethical principles Deception when social research is presented as something other than what it is participants believe they are doing one thing when really they are doing another (e.g. Milgram, 1963) widespread - researchers usually want to limit participants’ understanding compromises professional self-interest and reputation of the discipline See page 124 9

The difficulties of ethical decision-making blurred boundary between ethical and unethical practices potential for deception / lack of informed consent pervades most social research little guidance on marginal areas of research Internet-based research provides new ethical dilemmas public access vs. perceived privacy (King, 1996) See page 128 10