In many branches of natural science, scientists have the advantage of being able to pick up their subject, move it around and manipulate it to get a closer look. For social scientists and sociologists, however, it's not so simple because the subjects of our studies are human beings, and we cannot manipulate them for the purposes of research. We have a duty to be ethical.
- We will be introducing the concept of ethics in sociological research.
- We'll start by highlighting the meaning and importance of ethics.
- Then, we will cover the various types of ethical guidelines which should be used in practice during sociological research.
- We'll wrap up with some examples of how ethics have (and sometimes haven't) been adequately implemented in sociological research.
What is the meaning of ethics in sociological research?
The concept of 'ethics' is applied similarly across all social sciences, such as sociology and psychology.
Defining 'ethics'
The fact that we all have laws and norms to follow means that we naturally live by a code of ethics. This is because many of these have been established based on a collective moral conscience, or 'doing the right thing'.
Ethics are a set of principles of conduct that govern the behaviour of individuals and/or groups. Our ethics are usually based on our morals.
In the real world, the code of ethics to which we all comply is enforced both by formal laws and by informal, unwritten norms.
For example, road regulations and speed limits are legal restrictions which are based on both our own safety and on the sense of morality in keeping those around us safe. Moreover, in the interest of keeping ourselves and those around us safe from the risk of COVID-19, some of us might opt to continue wearing masks where they are no longer a legal requirement.
These rules are reinforced because deviance against moral norms is typically met with criticism, whether this is in the form of resentment from the people around us, or through legal punishment such as a fine.
In the context of sociology, ethical guidelines inform researchers o how to conduct research in a morally acceptable way.
Following speed limits and ensuring road safety are examples of laws based on morals. Pexels.com
What are the various types of ethics in sociological research practices?
In the interest of protecting the rights of the participants, various ethical guidelines are put into place during social science research. These are provided by various organisations, such as the Academy of Social Sciences and the American Psychological Association. In this explanation, we will be drawing information from the Statement of Ethical Practice that has been laid out by the British Sociological Association.
All ethical guidelines are also rigorously enforced where research is to be conducted on vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, people with disabilities (and their aides), or children.
Voluntary participation
A researcher must ensure that the participation of research subjects is voluntary, in that they are not under any pressure or obligation to take part in the research process. This can be done in two ways: through informed consent and the right to withdraw.
Informed consent
According to the British Sociological Association (2017, p. 5), it is the responsibility of the researcher to explain:
what the research is about, who is undertaking and financing it, why it is being undertaken, and how it is to be distributed and used”.
The creators of these ethical guidelines also take care to mention that the study should be explained: “in terms meaningful to the participant” (British Sociological Association, 2017, p. 5). In other words, the sociologist should avoid using complex vocabulary or technical jargon, which risks the participant not fully understanding what the study will entail.
Many sociologists believe that participation can only be truly voluntary where the research participant is aware of what is going to take place in the study, and when. However, informed consent often cannot be obtained, such as in the case of covert studies. Therefore, some associations argue that a lack of informed consent can be justified where it will help avoid hindering the validity of results, such as through the researcher effect. Still, they state that covert research should only be used where it would be impossible to gain the same insights with other research methods.
Studies may be vulnerable to the researcher effect when the behaviour of the participant is influenced by the known presence of the researcher.
The right to withdraw
Another key aspect of the voluntary participation guideline is offering the right to withdraw from the research. This means that sociologists should make it exceptionally clear to the participants that they are welcome to leave or opt out whenever they wish during the study.
The right to withdraw is an important factor for ethical guidelines to point out, as some type of difference in status and power is usually present in the research process. This could reference the position of the research participant themselves (as relatively powerful or powerless members of society), but also the relationship between the researcher and the researched. In the latter case, the research participant may feel pressured or intimidated by the instruction or professional appearance of the researcher.
Privacy, anonymity, and confidentiality
The ethical guidelines that fall under this category concern not revealing participants' identities through the research, or any discussions of it.
Confidentiality
When something is confidential, it is private or secret.
A sociologist can ensure confidentiality for the participant(s) by concealing their identity in both the research and any discussions about it. They might do this by using pseudonyms (fake names) or simply using the initials of the participants' names.
Where informed consent isn't obtained from participants (such as in covert research), researchers should be careful to take measures to safeguard their identities after the research is completed.
An important part of ensuring the research participants' privacy is to let them know the ways in which the researcher intends to do this. Furthermore, the sociologist shouldn't offer unrealistic guarantees, and should let the participant know where it may not be possible to ensure total confidentiality (such as in focus groups).
Anonymity
A research participant might be offered the option to remain anonymous. In this instance, not only is their identity not disclosed through the research but it may also be hidden from the researcher themselves.
The researcher should clarify the extent to which participants will be able to see/read the interviews or field notes transcribed in the study. They should also make them aware of whether they will be allowed to alter, add to or withdraw any statements after the study has been completed.
Protection from harm
According to the British Sociological Association (2017, p. 5),
sociologists have a responsibility to ensure that the physical, social and psychological well-being of research participants is not adversely affected by the research”.
In other words, the contents and methods of research shouldn't pose any risk of physical or psychological harm to the research participant. While some research projects aim to study more neutral (or even positive) phenomena, others look to examine more harmful or disturbing experiences (such as incarceration or racism). When a research participant is asked to report their personal experiences, topics may emerge that they did not wish to talk about, or were not even aware of before the insights of a professional had been provided. In this case, the researcher must be well-trained and cautious to minimise the risk of harm.
Sociological researchers should aim to follow ethical guidelines in their studies, wherever possible. Pexels.com
What is the importance of ethics in sociology research?
It may be relatively obvious, but the utmost importance of ethical guidelines in sociological research is in its protection of the rights and interests of both researchers and research participants. All people involved in the research should be free from the risk of harm wherever possible. Whether this is through the study itself or because sensitive information may be revealed, such measures must be established!
Aside from ensuring the safety of researchers and research participants, compliance with ethical guidelines is also important for the sake of academic integrity.
Academic integrity
According to various sets of ethical guidelines, sociologists also have a responsibility to ensure that the reputation of sociology as a discipline stays a good one! This means abiding by the ethical statements which guide the relationship between researchers and research participants, as well as aiming for the highest quality of output possible.
Aside from addressing the relationship between the researcher and the participant, several ethical guidelines reference the responsibility of the researcher to ensure their research is conducted to the best of their ability. Of course, generating the most accurate data possible is the most obvious principle. However, it is partially because a lot of time and money (sometimes from external funding bodies) is invested in sociological research, and it should not be wasted.
A significant aspect of maintaining academic integrity involves recognising and discussing factors that can hinder (or have hindered) the validity of their results. This is usually done in the 'Discussion' section of a research paper, where the researcher will evaluate their study in various ways, including:
What are some examples of ethics in sociological research?
To help supplement our understanding of how ethical guidelines are implemented in sociological research, let's now turn to a few examples.
Examples of well-implemented ethics
We will look at two studies that are exemplary in their protection of the parties involved in the research.
Karen O'Reilly | The British on The Costa del Sol
O'Reilly (2000) aimed to study the experiences of British people who had moved to Costa del Sol, Spain. She decided to carry out a pilot study to evaluate the questionnaire before conducting it on a large scale. Respondents from the pilot study reported that people wouldn't answer questions about address and income as it would feel far too invasive.
A pilot study is a small-scale trial run of research which helps the researcher check for potential limitations in their methods before conducting them on a large scale.
Based on this feedback, O'Reilly added a note to the questionnaire, promising all respondents of the actual study full anonymity.
Sue Heath and Elizabeth Cleaver | Young, free and single? Twenty-somethings and household change
Heath and Cleaver (2003) conducted group interviews to learn about the experiences of young adults living in shared households.
The interviewers took care to inform the participants that they couldn't promise confidentiality in a group interview setting. Furthermore, they got permission from all participants to record the group interviews on a minidisc.
An example of poor ethics
Perhaps one of the most famous examples of ethical non-compliance is Phillip Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment of 1971.
The Stanford Prison Experiment was not exactly a sociological study – it was an experiment in social psychology.
Zimbardo and his colleagues wanted to study whether the violence in American prisons was because of the personalities of the guards, or because of the prison's environment. To test this, they create a fake prison in the basement of Stanford University's psychology building.
The participants were randomly allocated to groups, and they ended up with 10 'prisoners' and 11 'guards'. Every participant became so immersed in their role, that the guards would taunt and physically abuse the prisoners without any reason. If prisoners rebelled, they were placed into solitary confinement.
The experiment was meant to last for two weeks, but ended up lasting just under six days. This is because the guards became so aggressive, and the prisoners so mentally and physically distressed, that there was no choice but to end the experiment early.
Zimbardo failed to implement several ethical guidelines:
He didn't seek informed consent because Zimbardo himself did not know how the study would turn out.
Although he found through several follow-up questionnaires that the study didn't have lasting negative impacts on the participants, Zimbardo did not offer them any protection from physical and psychological harm.
Zimbardo's experiment is often cited as an example of poor ethical practice. Pexels.com
Ethics in Sociological Research - Key takeaways
- Ethics are a set of principles of conduct that govern the behaviour of individuals and/or groups. Our ethics are usually based on our morals.
- In the context of sociology, ethical guidelines inform researchers on how to conduct research in a morally acceptable way.
- Voluntary participation involves seeking informed consent and offering the right to withdraw.
- Other important ethical guidelines include offering confidentiality and/or anonymity, and protecting participants from physical and psychological harm.
- By following a code of ethics, sociologists can also maintain academic integrity and improve the reputation of sociology as a discipline.
References
- British Sociological Association. (2017). Statement of Ethical Practice. www.britsoc.co.uk
- Heath, S., & Cleaver, E. (2003). Young, free and single? Twenty-somethings and household change. Springer.
- O'Reilly, K. (2000). British On The Costa Del Sol. Routledge.
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