1.8 Research Ethics

Sociologists undertake studies to illuminate human behaviors, recognizing knowledge as a potent instrument for positive change. However, this pursuit carries significant responsibility, as researchers must uphold ethical standards to ensure the well-being of human subjects or groups involved in the research. Ethics delineates what is deemed acceptable or unacceptable in research practices.

Renowned German sociologist Max Weber (1949) emphasized a critical ethical concern: the potential distortion of research outcomes by personal values. While Weber acknowledged that personal values might influence aspects of research design, he vehemently opposed allowing these values to bias the interpretation of responses. Sociologists, he argued, must strive for value neutrality, maintaining impartiality, devoid of bias or judgment, throughout the study and in presenting results. It’s incumbent upon sociologists to disclose research findings transparently, without omitting or distorting essential data.

Is achieving value neutrality feasible? Many sociologists contend that complete objectivity is unattainable. Instead, they caution that sociological studies may contain inherent value biases. However, this doesn’t discredit the results but rather presents them as one facet of truth—a fact-based perspective. Some researchers endeavor to minimize personal biases, particularly subconscious ones, during data collection and analysis. They refrain from manipulating data to fit predetermined outcomes aligned with specific agendas, such as political or moral viewpoints. Ethically, researchers must report findings, even if they contradict personal beliefs, anticipated outcomes, or widely accepted notions.

The American Sociological Association (ASA), the principal professional body for sociologists in North America, serves as a valuable resource for sociology students. The ASA maintains a code of ethics—a set of formal guidelines for conducting sociological research—comprising principles and ethical standards for the discipline. Established in 1905 at John Hopkins University and revised in 1999, these guidelines mandate researchers to:

1. 1. Maintain objectivity and integrity in research
   2. Respect subjects’ rights to privacy and dignity
   3. Protect subjects from harm
   4. Preserve confidentiality
   5. Obtain informed consent
   6. Acknowledge collaboration and assistance
   7. Disclose sources of financial support

However, when these ethical standards are disregarded, it engenders an unethical environment for human participants in sociological studies. Throughout history, numerous unethical studies have transpired, including:

• • The Tuskegee Experiment: where African American men with syphilis were denied treatment.
  • The case of Henrietta Lacks: whose cells were harvested without consent for medical research.
  • The Milgram Experiment: which inflicted extreme emotional distress on participants.
  • The Stanford prison experiment: where participants were subjected to harmful treatment.
  • Laud Humphreys’ study: which misrepresented the researcher’s identity and intent to subjects.

These instances underscore the importance of upholding ethical principles in sociological research to safeguard the rights and well-being of participants.