Introduction: The Variety of Ethical Dilemmas

Abstract

Ethical issues have become an integral part of the process of preparing, conducting and publishing empirical research in the social sciences. These days, students are being trained in all kinds of skills and techniques for doing ‘ethical research’. The research protocols include detailed instructions and warnings about potential risks and harms and the dangers of manipulation and concealment. Such concerns about the ethical aspects of social research are typical of our ‘risk society’ (Beck, Risk society: Towards a new modernity, 1992) and our ‘culture of control’ (Garland, The culture of control, 2001). While medical sciences in particular are rightfully considered to be the most risk-producing disciplines, the social sciences are also strongly affected by research ethics protocols (Haggerty, Qualitative Sociology 27(4):392, 2004). However, risk management, regulation and overregulation of research ethics pose dangers to our ability to conduct research and produce knowledge. In the words of Adler and Adler (Walking the tightrope. Ethical issues for qualitative researchers, p. 42, 2002): ‘If you fundamentally shut down research there is no risk to subjects because researchers will not know anything’. In order to avoid such an extreme situation and to be able to continue doing research in criminology and anthropology, especially where qualitative methods are involved, scientists need to be alert to any obstacles, exaggerations or new regulations that could hinder their fieldwork activities.