Sociological Imagination and Investigation Ethics and social research: principles and dilemmas

In this lecture we will… Introduce the fundamental principles of ethical research practice in the social sciences. Consider the centrality of ‘ethic’s to contemporary sociological practice Discuss key ethical principles and dilemmas encountered by sociologists in designing and conducting research.  Covert/overt research  Informed consent  Confidentiality & privacy

Why be ethical? ‘Ethics is a matter of principled sensitivity to the rights of others. Being ethical limits the choices we can make in the pursuit of truth. Ethics say that while truth is good, respect for human dignity is better, even if, in the extreme case, the respect for human dignity leaves one ignorant of human nature’ (Cavan, in Bulmer 1982: 3) Ethical positions can be  Deontological – motivations of ‘actors’ make actions right or wrong OR  Consequential – the ends justify the means

Covert ethnographic research Tearoom Trade Humphreys, 1970  Researcher ‘played a role’ within the research setting – ‘watch- queen’  Traced subjects through their license plates  Interviewed them, in disguise, at their homes When Prophecy Fails, Festinger et. al, 1956  Covertly infiltrated millennial cult  The number of researchers artificially boosted the membership of the group  Participated in group activities (answered the phone, led meetings) The National Front, Fielding, 1981  Represented himself as potential convert  Attempted empathy with ideology as a means to understand it  Became friendly with party-members; invited to their homes

Statement of ethical principles Relations with and Responsibilities towards Research Participants (From BSA ‘statement of ethical practice, 2002’) ‘Sociologists, when they carry out research, enter into personal and moral relationships with those they study, be they individuals, households, social groups or corporate entities.’ ‘Sociologists) have responsibility for the use to which their data may be put and for how the research is to be disseminated. Discharging that responsibility may on occasion be difficult, especially in situations of social conflict, competing social interests or where there is unanticipated misuse of the research by third parties.’ ‘Sociologists have a responsibility to ensure that the physical, social and psychological well-being of research participants is not adversely affected by the research.’ ‘research relationships should be characterised, whenever possible, by trust and integrity.’ ‘As far as possible participation in sociological research should be based on the freely given informed consent of those studied. This implies a responsibility on the sociologist to explain in appropriate detail, and in terms meaningful to participants, what the research is about, who is undertaking and financing it, why it is being undertaken, and how it is to be disseminated and used.’

Ethical principles in social research Informed consent The research subject chooses to take part. Research subjects are made aware of any potential risks to which they would be exposed. Research subjects are informed about who will see any data produced and the rules of confidentiality that will be applied. Informed consent is also an ontological and epistemological problem.

Informed consent and cultural sensitivity For vulnerable or marginalised groups signing ‘official’ documents might be intimidating or stressful. Consider…  ‘The state’ and the power to collect information about its citizens  The privileged position of the researcher Written legal document might be unfamiliar and be treated suspiciously, especially in non- Western cultures. In practice therefore some researchers seek only verbal consent from research subjects.

Ethical principles in social research Confidentiality Quantitative social scientists can assure anonymity through the use of questionnaires and statistics. In qualitative research, the details of individuals’ experiences are central to the research. Qualitative researchers need to ensure that minimal amount of information that could be used to identify any individual is made public. Standard strategies include replacing names with pseudonyms and changing or not revealing the names of fieldwork settings (e.g Street Corner Society)

Ethical dilemmas - confidentiality One of the most frequently asked questions of an ethnographer by an informant is ‘who will read what I say?’. This is particularly problematic in societies or among groups of people routinely subjected to surveillance. The notion of ‘pure academic research’ – and its value - is not universally recognised. Archives for both quantitative and qualitative data accentuate the problem

Ethical dilemmas: Privacy ‘Taboo’ subjects: when is a question too personal to ask? The role of ‘gatekeepers’ ‘Private’ data is a growing public concern In practice boundaries between the public and the private, the ‘everyday’ and the ‘intimate’ may be very blurred.

Conclusions Research is a social practice - it entails respect for human life and dignity. The ethics of social science research are coming under increasing scrutiny and institutional regulation. Basic principles of ethical research practice:  Informed consent  Confidentiality  Avoid deception In practice, these principles are not always easily applied and their observance may generate serious dilemmas. When confronting these dilemmas there are never any absolute right or wrong answers.

CLASS ESSAY – OBSERVATION EXERCISE IS DUE on MARCH 6 th !