Ethics & Research Dr. Guerette

Defining Ethics Deal with matters of right and wrong. Deal with matters of right and wrong. May be defined as behavior conforming to the standards of conduct of a given profession or group. May be defined as behavior conforming to the standards of conduct of a given profession or group. Thus, ethics is a matter of agreement among members of group. Thus, ethics is a matter of agreement among members of group. What makes a profession a profession? Self- governance and oversight. What makes a profession a profession? Self- governance and oversight.

Ethical issues in criminal justice research Do no harm to subjects Do no harm to subjects Must balance benefits of research, while not harming those you are studying. Must balance benefits of research, while not harming those you are studying. Most potential when dealing w/ human subjects in field studies. Most potential when dealing w/ human subjects in field studies. Types of harm Types of harm Physical Physical Psychological Psychological Legal Legal Possibility of harm is sometimes acceptable. Possibility of harm is sometimes acceptable.

Ethical issues in criminal justice research Voluntary participation Voluntary participation Major tenet of research is that the participation of research subjects is voluntary (e.g. not forced or coerced). Major tenet of research is that the participation of research subjects is voluntary (e.g. not forced or coerced). Sometimes difficult if field researcher is unable to let it be known what they are doing for fear of reactivity by subjects which contaminate results. Sometimes difficult if field researcher is unable to let it be known what they are doing for fear of reactivity by subjects which contaminate results.

Ethical issues in criminal justice research Deception Deception Generally it is unethical to deceive subjects but sometimes necessary. When so must be justified by compelling scientific or administrative concerns. Generally it is unethical to deceive subjects but sometimes necessary. When so must be justified by compelling scientific or administrative concerns.

Ethical issues in criminal justice research Anonymity Anonymity A survey respondent or other person may be considered anonymous when the researcher is unable to identify a given piece of information with a given person. A survey respondent or other person may be considered anonymous when the researcher is unable to identify a given piece of information with a given person. Anonymity takes care of many potential ethical difficulties. Anonymity takes care of many potential ethical difficulties.

Ethical issues in criminal justice research Confidentiality Confidentiality Means that a researcher can link information with a given subject’s identity but promises not to do so publicly. Means that a researcher can link information with a given subject’s identity but promises not to do so publicly. Tools to ensure confidentiality Tools to ensure confidentiality Remove identifiers from data Remove identifiers from data Create separate identification file and maintain in offsite secure location. Create separate identification file and maintain in offsite secure location. Disclosure to subjects of use for research purposes only. Disclosure to subjects of use for research purposes only.

Ethical issues in criminal justice research Analyzing and reporting data Analyzing and reporting data Also ethical obligations to scientific community. Also ethical obligations to scientific community. Must fully disclose pitfalls, problems, and resulting limitations encountered in your study. Must fully disclose pitfalls, problems, and resulting limitations encountered in your study. Legal liability Legal liability Researchers may also expose themselves to legal liability. Researchers may also expose themselves to legal liability. Observing criminal behavior w/o reporting to police. Observing criminal behavior w/o reporting to police. Researcher data may be subject to subpeona. Researcher data may be subject to subpeona.

Ethical issues in criminal justice research Special problems Special problems a. Staff misbehavior in applied research a. Staff misbehavior in applied research Does the researcher report it? Does the researcher report it? b. Researching causes of crime b. Researching causes of crime Possible promoting of offending Possible promoting of offending c. Withholding of desirable treatments c. Withholding of desirable treatments d. Mandatory reporting situations d. Mandatory reporting situations Such as family violence, child abuse Such as family violence, child abuse e. Vulnerable populations e. Vulnerable populations

Promoting compliance with ethical principles Codes of professional ethics Codes of professional ethics Institutional review boards Institutional review boards Informed consent Informed consent Requires subjects to have both capacity to understand, and to understand the purpose of the research, its possible risks, side effects, benefits to subjects, and the procedures used. Requires subjects to have both capacity to understand, and to understand the purpose of the research, its possible risks, side effects, benefits to subjects, and the procedures used. Often special regulations for special populations. Often special regulations for special populations. Institutional review boards and researcher rights Institutional review boards and researcher rights Balance between the two. Review boards may assist in resolving ethical dilemmas. Balance between the two. Review boards may assist in resolving ethical dilemmas.

Examples of Controversial Studies “Trouble in the Tearoom” “Trouble in the Tearoom” Simulating a prison

In Class Exercise You have been asked to conduct a field study of an extremist group, similar to the one thought to be connected in some way to the Oklahoma Bombing in The goal of the project is to obtain detailed information about the extremist group, including recruitment practices, training, beliefs, and daily activities. The group is unaware that you are a researcher. Describe what you would do in the following circumstances: You have been asked to conduct a field study of an extremist group, similar to the one thought to be connected in some way to the Oklahoma Bombing in The goal of the project is to obtain detailed information about the extremist group, including recruitment practices, training, beliefs, and daily activities. The group is unaware that you are a researcher. Describe what you would do in the following circumstances: You observe several members of the group defacing a government building with graffiti. You observe several members of the group defacing a government building with graffiti. You notice the presence of several assault weapons on the premises. You notice the presence of several assault weapons on the premises. A member of the extremist group asks you to place a harassing phone call. A member of the extremist group asks you to place a harassing phone call. You overhear two members discussing plans for sending a mail-bomb to a government official. You overhear two members discussing plans for sending a mail-bomb to a government official. A law enforcement agent learns that you are carrying out your research study and approaches you for information about members within the extremist group. A law enforcement agent learns that you are carrying out your research study and approaches you for information about members within the extremist group.