Ethical Issues

Ethical Issues in Sociological Research

Informed consent means participants fully understand what they are consenting to.
This implies that the researcher provides all necessary information, without coercing or misleading.
It’s particularly complex when dealing with vulnerable groups like children, who may not fully understand.
Withdrawal from the research at any time should be ensured without any repercussions.

Deception

Deception involves hiding the true intent of the study or providing false information to the respondents.
Although it may be required in some research designs, it raises significant ethical issues.
Participants should be debriefed afterwards, informing them about the deception and its purpose.

Privacy and Anonymity

Researchers should always respect the respondents’ right to privacy.
Personal information should be kept confidential and used solely for the purposes of the research.
Therefore, they must ensure anonymity and confidentiality, for example by anonymising data or requiring non-disclosure.

Risk of Harm

The principle of ‘do no harm’ should always guide sociological enquiry.
This refers to both physical and psychological harm, as well as any potential distress or discomfort.
Any risks should be clearly communicated beforehand, and measures taken to limit them as much as possible.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality means that the data collected are non-identifiable and non-traceable back to the participant.
Breaches can have serious consequences, from embarrassment to legal ramifications for the participant.
Detailed measures like use of pseudonyms, data encryption, and secure storage can help ensure confidentiality.

Understanding and addressing these ethical issues is an integral part of any sociological research process, and speaks to the researcher’s integrity and responsibility towards participants as well as towards science itself.