Difference between revisions of "Resource:Ea84de30-5f0c-4fc8-a57f-e61b53d03544"

From The Embassy of Good Science
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|Resource Type=Cases
 
|Resource Type=Cases
 
|Title=The Art and Politics of Covert Research: Doing ‘Situated Ethics’ in the Field
 
|Title=The Art and Politics of Covert Research: Doing ‘Situated Ethics’ in the Field
|Is About=This is a factual case.
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|Is About=This factual case describes a covert sociological study on the work culture of nightlife bouncers. The author describes both practical and ethical problems he encountered during his research due to its covert nature. However, he argues that the research would not have been possible without its secrecy.  
 
<references />
 
<references />
|Important Because=<br />
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|Important Because=The practice of covert research in sociology has been a long subject of debate. It has received much criticism due to the deception of the research subjects among other objections.<ref>Homan, R.  (1980)  ‘The Ethics of  Covert  Methods’, British  Journal of  Sociology 31 (1): 36–59.</ref><ref>Homan, R. (1991) The Ethics of Social Research. London: Macmillan.</ref> Nonetheless, covert research methods may also have beneficial effects, as outlined in the present case. This may especially be true in the field of sociology and social sciences, where it is important to not disturb the behavioral and cultural patterns. It is important to not only take both these beneficial effects and the ethical objections into consideration when determining the justifiability of covert research practice. The present case may aid in the identification of these beneficial consequences, while it may also help to prepare sociologists for the problems they may encounter during a covert study. <br />
 
<references />
 
<references />
|Important For=Researchers
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|Important For=Researchers; Research Ethics Committees; Sociologists
 
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{{Link
 
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{{Related To
 
{{Related To
 
|Related To Resource=Resource:Ba84b1f8-06f6-4582-95f9-ec033265ba22
 
|Related To Resource=Resource:Ba84b1f8-06f6-4582-95f9-ec033265ba22
|Related To Theme=Theme:9ac8c1db-f98b-41ee-858d-a8c93a647108
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|Related To Theme=Theme:9ac8c1db-f98b-41ee-858d-a8c93a647108;Theme:0d054575-ca21-4209-b7c5-6120fc0ed647;Theme:D44fd22a-ed5d-4120-a78b-8881747131fd
 
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{{Tags
 
{{Tags
 
|Has Timepoint=1996
 
|Has Timepoint=1996
 
|Has Location=United Kingdom; UK
 
|Has Location=United Kingdom; UK
|Has Virtue And Value=Respect
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|Has Virtue And Value=Respect; Autonomy; Transparency; Honesty
|Has Good Practice And Misconduct=Consent; Risk; Covert Research
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|Has Good Practice And Misconduct=Consent; Risk; Covert Research; Deception
 
|Related To Research Area=Sociology
 
|Related To Research Area=Sociology
 
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Revision as of 11:10, 12 July 2021

Cases

The Art and Politics of Covert Research: Doing ‘Situated Ethics’ in the Field

What is this about?

This factual case describes a covert sociological study on the work culture of nightlife bouncers. The author describes both practical and ethical problems he encountered during his research due to its covert nature. However, he argues that the research would not have been possible without its secrecy.

Why is this important?

The practice of covert research in sociology has been a long subject of debate. It has received much criticism due to the deception of the research subjects among other objections.[1][2] Nonetheless, covert research methods may also have beneficial effects, as outlined in the present case. This may especially be true in the field of sociology and social sciences, where it is important to not disturb the behavioral and cultural patterns. It is important to not only take both these beneficial effects and the ethical objections into consideration when determining the justifiability of covert research practice. The present case may aid in the identification of these beneficial consequences, while it may also help to prepare sociologists for the problems they may encounter during a covert study.

  1. Homan, R.  (1980)  ‘The Ethics of  Covert  Methods’, British  Journal of  Sociology 31 (1): 36–59.
  2. Homan, R. (1991) The Ethics of Social Research. London: Macmillan.

For whom is this important?

Other information

When
Good Practices & Misconduct
Research Area
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