Ethics, Power, and Research Integrity in Social Science
Ethics Beyond Compliance
Research ethics
Ethics in social science involves more than institutional approval. It requires attention to informed consent, privacy, vulnerability, deception, reciprocity, and the political consequences of representation and publication.
Ethical principles
Power is always present
Researchers can shape access, interpretation, publication, and public narratives, so ethical analysis must account for asymmetries of voice and authority.
Ethical challenges by method
Survey research
- Risk of privacy breaches and sensitive questions
- Requires careful anonymization and consent
Ethnography
- Risk of exposure through prolonged proximity
- Requires ongoing renegotiation of consent
Which ethical principle is most directly about fairness in who bears research burdens and who benefits?
Justice addresses equitable distribution of research burdens and benefits.
Correct answer: Justice
Why is ongoing consent important in ethnographic fieldwork?
Ethnography involves evolving social relations that may alter participants' understanding and exposure.
Correct answer: Because relationships, contexts, and risks can change over time, so consent must remain meaningful rather than one-time only.
Research integrity
Integrity includes transparent reporting, careful handling of data, avoidance of p-hacking or selective citation, and honest presentation of uncertainty. In advanced social science, reproducibility and ethical responsibility reinforce one another.
Which practice best supports research integrity?
Transparency helps others evaluate, reproduce, and trust the research process.
Correct answer: Transparent documentation of data and analytic decisions
Name one way researchers can reduce harm in socially sensitive research.
Harm reduction often starts with data minimization and protection.
Correct answer: Use strong confidentiality procedures and minimize unnecessary collection of identifiable information.