Ethical Issues of Research Flashcards
Define Ethical Issues
The moral concerns over the benefits of doing this research for the sociologist or the group you are researching or society
What 3 parts of a society might a piece of research benefit or harm?
The researcher, The Individuals, The whole Society itself
What does the British Sociological Association do with Ethical Issues?
They provide guidelines for sociologists to follow to keep it ethical
What is the issue of Informed Consent?
The ability for participants to willingly take part in the study or to not
What is the issue of the Right to Withdraw?
Making it so that participants are able to leave the piece of research at any time if they want
What must be respected in qualitative studies with all participants?
Their privacy
What form of research should researchers always ask if their participants want to continue consent?
Longitudional Research
Why could Protection from Harm be an issue in a piece of research?
Because researchers avoid their work harming participants or themselves
What is Guilty Knowledge?
Knowing that someone will commit a crime and a researcher can choose to report it or not
Why might Sensitivity be an issue in a piece of research?
Because some studies may talk about personal life
What must not happen with participants in a study if it is Sensitive?
They must not be put under pressure
Define Deception
Lying to people about your motives for doing something
How could Deception be an issue in a piece of research?
Because participants may be misled about the real motive behind a researcher doing something
What must happen with all personal information about participants?
It must be kept confidential
Why could Confidentiality be an issue in a study?
If someone may commit a crime
Define Anonymity
Keeping the identity of people secret
Why might Anonymity be an issue in a piece of research? What might the negative affects be for a criminal gang being researched if their identity is exposed?
Because a sociologist could be researching a criminal gang. If their identity is exposed, the negative effects will be being arrested
Why might Sociologists sometimes not follow ethical guidelines?
Because they may want to obtain a piece of research which will only be possible if they discard the guidelines
Which research methods are least likely to raise ethical problems? Why?
Quantitative Methods, because the researcher does not get involved and they are pre-planned questions with closed answers
Which research methods are most likely to raise ethical problems? Why?
Qualitative Methods, because the researcher is at risk of putting themselves or their participants at harm
