Ethics

• What does the British Sociological Association (BSA) provide for sociological research?

  Strict ethical guidelines
• What is considered ethical research according to the BSA?

  Morally justifiable and causes no harm
• Why might some sociologists avoid certain research methods?

  Due to ethical restrictions
• What are the BSA guidelines regarding participant exploitation?

  • Researchers must not exploit participants.
  • They must not pry into private lives.
• How did Ann Oakley's research on motherhood uphold ethical guidelines?

  It became a two-way beneficial process
• Why are under 16s excluded from crime research questionnaires?

  Parental consent is required
• What ethical concern arises from Dobash and Dobash's research on battered women?

  Participants recounted harrowing experiences
• What justification is given for the ethical breach in Dobash and Dobash's study?

  Findings helped policy making on domestic violence
• What ethical issue is associated with Humphreys' research on male sex in public toilets?

  It involved tracking participants to their homes
• Why do some feminists view structured interviews as potentially oppressive?

  Interviewees may feel pressured to respond
• What must researchers provide to participants according to ethical guidelines?

  Purpose of the research and final report
• How did Dobash and Dobash ensure informed consent in their research?

  They informed women of the research purpose
• When is consent not required for document research?

  When using public documents
• What ethical issue arose from James Patrick's undercover research?

  He did not inform gang members of his purpose
• What is a common ethical concern with field experiments?

  Participants are unaware they are being studied
• What is a challenge with using personal/private documents in research?

  Gaining consent from all involved parties
• What must researchers avoid doing to participants according to ethical guidelines?

  Deceiving them if possible
• How did Dobash and Dobash avoid deception in their study?

  They clearly stated the purpose of their investigation
• What unethical action did Humphreys take in his research?

  He deceived participants about his identity
• What ethical issue did James Patrick face during his research?

  He withdrew without explanation, causing concern
• What must research findings be in terms of participant confidentiality?

  Confidential and anonymous
• How do victim surveys ensure confidentiality?

  They are conducted anonymously
• What ethical dilemma arises from informal interviews with offenders?

  Should researchers breach confidentiality with police?
• How do official statistics maintain confidentiality?

  No individual criminals are identified
• What right must researchers allow participants during research?

  The right to withdraw
• How does the BCS allow participants to withdraw from research?

  By finding other participants easily
• What pressure did participants face in Milgram's obedience study?

  Strong pressure to continue giving shocks
• What ethical concern arises from asking victims of crime questions?

  It may cause emotional distress
• What did Williams' study into football hooliganism involve?

  Being asked to be a getaway driver
• What ethical issue is associated with Humphreys' research on public toilets?

  It involved illegal activities
• What ethical rule did Maguire establish regarding sensitive information?

  Never to record particularly sensitive information
• What must researchers ensure regarding participants' protection?

  Protection from physical and psychological harm
• How do questionnaires protect participants from harm?

  Respondents are not obliged to answer
• What ethical dilemma arises when sociologists study crime?

  Gaining 'guilty knowledge' about crimes
• What issue arises from interviewing victims for too long?

  It may cause emotional distress
• Why was Zimbardo's study stopped after six days?

  Due to severe psychological harm to participants
• What are the ethical challenges in sociological research methods?

  • CPO methods may be unethical.
  • Sociologists may glamorize criminal activity.
  • Compared to psychology, sociology is more ethical.
• What is the focus of the A-level sample questions provided?

  Ethical problems in qualitative research
• What is the purpose of the Paper 3 question regarding participant observation?

  Evaluate its scientific and ethical aspects