Ethics and politics in social research
Why is it important that personal data about research participants are kept within secure, confidential records?
So that the participants cannot find out what has been written about them
So that individuals, places or organizations cannot be harmed through identification or disclosure of personal information
So that government officials, teachers and other people in authority can have easy access to the data
To enable the researcher to track down individuals and find out more about their lives
So that individuals, places or organizations cannot be harmed through identification or disclosure of personal information
When maintaining records of personal information about your participants, it is important that these data are kept in a safe, secure place to which no one but you has access (unless the participants have consented to other arrangements). Participants have the right to see what has been written about them, or which is stored on computer files about them. Much quantitative data can be made anonymous quite easily and, in any event, the identity of the respondent is not a focus of study but in qualitative research this is not as easily done. Great care must be taken with the handling of this data, particularly in the final published reports, so that individuals cannot be identified from their comments or any details about their backgrounds. The UK Data Protection Act of 1998 is referred to in “Tips and skills” on page 128 and can be accessed on-line for further information.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 128
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 128
So that individuals, places or organizations cannot be harmed through identification or disclosure of personal information When maintaining records of personal information about your participants, it is important that these data are kept in a safe, secure place to which no one but you has access (unless the participants have consented to other arrangements). Participants have the right to see what has been written about them, or which is stored on computer files about them. Much quantitative data can be made anonymous quite easily and, in any event, the identity of the respondent is not a focus of study but in qualitative research this is not as easily done. Great care must be taken with the handling of this data, particularly in the final published reports, so that individuals cannot be identified from their comments or any details about their backgrounds. The UK Data Protection Act of 1998 is referred to in “Tips and skills” on page 128 and can be accessed on-line for further information.
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 128
Reference: Bryman: Social Research Methods: 5th Edition Page(s) 128
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Apart from the fact that it is “not a nice thing to do” (p133), what is an important ethical disadvantage of deceiving participants?A. It can damage the professional reputation of the researcher and their discipline
B. It makes it more difficult to gain access to deviant or hidden populations
C. It means that records of personal data about the participants cannot be made anonymous
D. None of the above
Which of the following is a form of harm that might be suffered by research participants?
A. Physical injury
B. Stress and anxiety
C. Impaired development
D. All of the above
Whose side did Becker suggest the social researcher should take?
A. The underdog
B. The fat cat
C. The cash cow
D. The sitting duck
Why is it “easier said than done” to ensure that the principle of informed consent is adhered to?
A. It is not practicable to present every participant with all the information about the study
B. Sometimes it is desirable to withhold certain pieces of information, such as the length of time an interview will take
C. If the participants knew exactly what the researcher was intending to study, they might change their behaviour
D. All of the above
Which of the following factors does not add a political dimension to the research process?
A. The researcher’s values, beliefs and prior assumptions
B. The response rate of a social survey
C. The vested interests of the funding body
D. A gatekeeper’s concerns about representation
Which of the following ideas is not associated with the stance of situation ethics?
A. Anything goes
B. Principled relativism
C. The end justifies the means
D. No choice
Which method is most commonly associated with a lack of informed consent?
A. In-depth interviewing
B. Qualitative content analysis
C. Covert observation
D. Structured interviewing
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