Sociological Research Methods Chapter 3 Ethics in Research

Ethics In Research Formal procedures for the protection of research participants grew out of publicized abuses –Nuremberg war crime trials (1946) –Tuskegee syphilis Study Many were denied treatment until 1972 –The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research was created as a result of these abuses Released the Belmont Report in 1979

Belmont Report Established three basic ethical principles for the protection of human subjects in any study –Respect for persons Treating persons as autonomous agents and protecting those with diminished autonomy (e.g. children or mentally disabled) –Beneficence Minimizing possible harms and maximizing benefits –Justice Distributing benefits and risks of research fairly

The Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (1991) –The Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA translated the three ethical principles into specific regulations which were adopted in 1991 The American Sociological Society (ASA) adopted even more specific guidelines

ASA Code of Ethics Ethical issues in research are covered by four guidelines: –To protect research subjects Avoid harming research participants Obtain informed consent Avoid deception in research, except in limited circumstances Maintain privacy and confidentiality –To maintain honesty and openness –To achieve valid results –To encourage appropriate application

The 2 Principles Reliance on Empirical Data –Empirical Data is collected through the five senses –Theories and hypotheses need to be “falsifiable” This means that they can be shown to be either true or false Objectivity –Scientists need to remain “non-biased” –We “test” a hypothesis, we don’t try “prove” a hypothesis

A Few Definitions Variable: A characteristic or property that can vary –e.g. age, gender, social class, etc. Dependent Variable: Behavior to be explained or predicted Independent Variable: The variable that explains or predicts the dependent variable Theory: A logically interrelated set of propositions about empirical reality E.g. structural functionalism, conflict theory, rational choice theory, etc.

Research Question: A question about the social world that you put forth that can be answered through the collection and analysis of empirical data –E.g. Are female students at OU more likely to suffer from depression than male students? Hypothesis: A statement that can be empirically tested. Typically worded as an answer to a research question –Differs from a theory in that it is a specific statement about two or more variables e.g. Female students at OU are more likely to suffer from depression than male students. –These statements must be falsafiable In other words, they must be able to be proven false –“God causes earthquakes” is not a falsafiable statement

Two Types of Reasoning Inductive Specifics Generalization Specifics Ways of Reasoning Ways of Reasoning Deductive Generalization

Two Types of Reasoning Draw Conclusion; Report Findings Collect/Analyze the Data Develop the Research Design Formulate the Hypothesis Review the Literature Collect/Analyze the Data Develop the Research Design Review the Literature Collect/Analyze the Data Develop the Research Design INDUCTIVE METHOD (Inclusive DEDUCTIVE METHOD (Classic) Generate Hypotheses for Theory Construction; Draw Conclusions; Report Findings Select and Define the Research Problem

Formulating Hypotheses Step 1: Choose a topic –Stealing/robbery Step 2: Narrow the focus –The role of religion on stealing/robbery Step 3: Formulate a research question –e.g. Does religious affiliation have any effect on whether a person steals or robs? –Three Criteria Feasibility Social Importance Scientific Relevance Step 4: Formulate the hypothesis –People who attend church are less likely to steal from others

Understanding Causation Other possible influences on cause and effect must be eliminated Nonspuriousness A cause must always precede an effect in time Time Order A cause and an effect must vary in unison Correlation Criteria of Causation