Ethical Issues of Research

Question 1

Define Ethical Issues

Answer 1

The moral concerns over the benefits of doing this research for the sociologist or the group you are researching or society

Question 2

What 3 parts of a society might a piece of research benefit or harm?

Answer 2

The researcher, The Individuals, The whole Society itself

Question 3

What does the British Sociological Association do with Ethical Issues?

Answer 3

They provide guidelines for sociologists to follow to keep it ethical

Question 4

What is the issue of Informed Consent?

Answer 4

The ability for participants to willingly take part in the study or to not

Question 5

What is the issue of the Right to Withdraw?

Answer 5

Making it so that participants are able to leave the piece of research at any time if they want

Question 6

What must be respected in qualitative studies with all participants?

Answer 6

Their privacy

Question 7

What form of research should researchers always ask if their participants want to continue consent?

Answer 7

Longitudional Research

Question 8

Why could Protection from Harm be an issue in a piece of research?

Answer 8

Because researchers avoid their work harming participants or themselves

Question 9

What is Guilty Knowledge?

Answer 9

Knowing that someone will commit a crime and a researcher can choose to report it or not

Question 10

Why might Sensitivity be an issue in a piece of research?

Answer 10

Because some studies may talk about personal life

Question 11

What must not happen with participants in a study if it is Sensitive?

Answer 11

They must not be put under pressure

Question 12

Define Deception

Answer 12

Lying to people about your motives for doing something

Question 13

How could Deception be an issue in a piece of research?

Answer 13

Because participants may be misled about the real motive behind a researcher doing something

Question 14

What must happen with all personal information about participants?

Answer 14

It must be kept confidential

Question 15

Why could Confidentiality be an issue in a study?

Answer 15

If someone may commit a crime

Question 16

Define Anonymity

Answer 16

Keeping the identity of people secret

Question 17

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?

Answer 17

Because a sociologist could be researching a criminal gang. If their identity is exposed, the negative effects will be being arrested

Question 18

Why might Sociologists sometimes not follow ethical guidelines?

Answer 18

Because they may want to obtain a piece of research which will only be possible if they discard the guidelines

Question 19

Which research methods are least likely to raise ethical problems? Why?

Answer 19

Quantitative Methods, because the researcher does not get involved and they are pre-planned questions with closed answers

Question 20

Which research methods are most likely to raise ethical problems? Why?

Answer 20

Qualitative Methods, because the researcher is at risk of putting themselves or their participants at harm