Chapter 3

Ethics and Politics

of Social Research
Chapter Outline

Ethical Issues in Social Research

Two Ethical Controversies
The Politics of Social Research
Ethical Issues in Social Research

Voluntary participation.
No harm to participants.
Voluntary participation is based on a full
understanding of possible risks.
Anonymity and confidentiality.
Ethical Issues in Social Research

Deception
Needs to be justified by compelling scientific or
administrative concerns.
Analysis and Reporting
Researchers must be honest about their findings
and research.
Ethical Issues in Social Research

Institutional Review Boards

Review research proposals involving humans so
they can guarantee the rights and interests are
protected.
Professional Codes of Ethics
Most professional associations have formal codes of
conduct that describe acceptable and unacceptable
professional behavior.
Ethical Controversy: Laud
Humphreys

Study of homosexual behavior in public

restrooms.
Lied to participants by telling them he was a
voyeur-participant.
Traced participants to their home and
interviewed them under false pretenses.
Ethical Controversy: Stanley
Milgram

Study of human obedience.

Subjects had role of "teacher" and
administered a shock to "pupils".
Pupils were actually part of the experiment.
Ethics and Politics of Social
Research

Ethics deals mostly with methods used in

research.
Politics deals with the substance and use of
research.
There are no formal codes of accepted political
conduct.
Project Camelot

Proposed research project concerning the topic

of internal war within a nation.
The project was canceled and dismantled.
Science is neutral on topics of war and peace,
scientists are not.
Politics in Perspective

Three issues:
Science is not untouched by politics.
Science does not proceed in the midst of
political controversy.
Awareness of ideologies enriches the study
and practice of social research methods.