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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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