Ethical guidelines Q6

• Informed consent: Research participants should be offered the right to refuse to take part. Researcher should tell them about relevant aspects of the research so they can make an informed decision. Consent should be obtained before the research begins
• Confidentiality and privacy: Researchers should keep the identity and personal details of participants confidential in order to help prevent possible negative effects on them
• Protection from harm: Researchers need to be aware of possible negative effects on participants, such as police intervention, harm to education or employment, social exclusion and psychological damage. If someone is asked to talk about a sensitive event in their life, such as abuse or rape, they may also find this upsetting
• Involvement in illegal acts/ danger: If the researcher is investigating a deviant gang or group; for example, they may have to be seen to condone or take part in illegal behaviour. They may also be in danger, particularly if the gang members feel they are being decieved
• Deception in covert research: When the researcher's identity and purpose are hidden from the people being studied. It can create serious ethical problems, such as lying to people to win their trust. It is impossible to gain informed consent when you use this method. Anthropologists do not use covert observation during research, however some argue using covert methods is justified in some circumstances