Ethics in Social Research (Babbie Chapter 3)

1
Ethics in Social Research(Babbie Chapter 3)
Geography 237aResearch Methods

• no harm
• informed consent
• confidentiality
• anonymity
• deception
• debriefing
• case studies

2
Ethics Terminology

• no harm
• do not endanger physically, psychologically or
  socially
• do not embarrass
• e.g, reveal that Virgil very critical of his boss
  (social harm)

3
Ethics Terminology

• informed consent
• contract for participation in a study
• typically signed document, sometimes verbal
• informed basic goals/purpose of study
• consent to use data
• withdraw anytime, destroy data if requested

4
Ethics Terminology

• anonymity
• readers of research reports cannot identify
  responses
• researchers blind to responses too?
• confidentiality
• researchers know identity but do not reveal
  publicly
• pseudonyms
• in interview research, to protect confidentiality

5
Ethics Terminology

• deception
• hotly debated issue (violates informed consent)
• sometimes necessary to obtain truthful
  responses/participation more natural
• e.g., Milgram obedience study (many psychological
  experiments still deceive)
• debriefing
• if participation includes deception
• participant learns of deception and value of it
  for study

6
Ethics Example

• read
• Trouble in the Tearoom example in text