Research Ethics
Before engaging in fieldwork, it is necessary to consider research
ethics. This is because ethical issues present themselves as
particularly important when research involves direct interaction with
other human beings as is the case with ethnographic and qualitative
research methodologies such as participant-observation and
interviewing respectively. Universities, university schools and
departments will have their own ethical procedures which have to
be observed in order for research to be undertaken.
At their most basic, research ethics can be discussed in terms of the
following principles:
 Avoidance of harm
Research should not cause harm to participants, be that physical,
psychological, professional or any other kind of harm. This
means that researchers must take account of any possible
dangers in considering whether and how to research.
 Informed Consent
Research should only proceed with the informed consent of
participants, that is, their agreement to participate based on
having received the appropriate information in an appropriate
form. This means that researchers must explain in a clear and
accessible manner the nature, purpose and dissemination of the
research, what each participant will be asked to do, potential
risks and rewards and the conditions of involvement, including
participants’ right to withdraw from the research at any time.
 Anonymity and Confidentiality
Research should maintain the anonymity of participants and the
confidentiality of the information they supply in order to protect
their privacy. This means that researchers must ensure that
participants cannot be identified, either by name or by the
[accumulation of] details about them, and the information they
supply has to be stored securely with any identifying material
retained separately.
 Openness and Honesty
Research should be conducted with openness and honesty
regarding the role of the researcher and the character of the
research. This means that researchers must negotiate their
entrance into the research setting and be candid about their
research activities.
Of course, these principles cannot be treated in isolation as they
interrelate, for example, informed consent relates to avoidance of
harm, anonymity and confidentiality and openness and honesty
since potential participants can only give informed consent once
they have been made aware of the existence of the research and
what it entails for them. Further, in some circumstances, it can be
ethical to concede a principle, for instance, anonymity and
confidentiality where a public figure is concerned or, more
contentiously, openness and honesty where a specific subject
demands secrecy.
Another consideration in conducting research is the special
responsibility placed on the researcher when dealing with members
of vulnerable groups. The definition of vulnerable groups is the
subject of some debate, but there is a broad agreement that it
turns on a position of relative social disadvantage that places
participants in an unequal power relationship with the researcher.
Accordingly, vulnerable groups may be determined by age (children
and the elderly), minority status (ethnic and religious minorities but
also, for example, gay men and lesbians), sickness, disability or
poverty. The problem here is that by no means all members of such
groups may be vulnerable with the added complication that some
research can make groups vulnerable who would not otherwise be
so.
The four principles listed above are closely connected with risk
assessment (especially avoidance of harm) and data protection
(especially anonymity and confidentiality). Under risk assessment,
you will find an example of a risk assessment form. Under data
protection, you will find an example of a permissions letter and
consent form.
For further reading, see:
Ali, S. & Kelly, M. (2004) ‘Ethics and Social Research.’ In: Seale, C.
ed. Researching Society and Culture. Second Edition. London,
Thousand Oaks & New Delhi: Sage Publications, pp. 115-127.
Bryman, A. (2008) Social Research Methods. Third Edition. Oxford:
Oxford University Press, esp. ch. 5 ‘Ethics and Politics in Social
Research’.
The Association of University Departments of Theology and
Religious Studies ‘Framework of Professional Practice’
http://www.basr.ac.uk/Ethics.html
The British Sociological Association’s ‘Statement of Ethical Practice’
http://www.britsoc.co.uk/equality/Statement+Ethical+Practice.htm
The Social Research Association’s Ethical Guidelines at
http://www.the-sra-org.uk/guidelines.htmethic