Ethics, Power & Reflexivity Philosophies of Social Research

1. Ethics, Power & ReflexivityPhilosophies of Social Research Social Research Methods week 5 Claire Blencowe

2. Lecture Overview • Philosophies of Social Research – a quick recap • Power relations and ethical dilemmas in research • General principles of ethical research practice • Techniques of ethical research practice • Ethical guidelines • Writing the ethics statement • Obtaining ethical approval • ‘Being moral’ or practicing ‘full reflexivity’ ….. and a note of caution on research ethics • This week’s reading

3. Philosophies of Social Researcha quick recap • Research addresses problems and sociological issues • Politics: change, power, justice, representation… • Ethics, normative judgment or critique • Making sense: explaining, understanding, seeking meaning • Truth: searching for knowledge, revealing truth, providing proof… • Research projects need to start from research problems or issues • Methodologies should be chosen to match the research problem (not the other way around!)

4. Philosophies of Social Researcha quick recap Quantitative sociology • Positivist philosophy of social research • Sociology as science • Generality • General laws, general trends, general principles • ‘Objectivity’ as disinterested general view • Technical advice and judgment based on general laws/trends of behaviour (behaviourism) Qualitative sociology • Interprevitistand phenomenological philosophies of social research • Critical Theory and reactions against positivism (Early Frankfurt School; Feminism; Subaltern Studies; Post-structuralism) • Argue that positivist sociology is involved in domination or objectification • Specificity, difference, vitality, hidden aspects of society • Experience/subjectivity • Culture, meaning, language and symbols • Everyday accounts, ‘real life’ • Embodiment and emotion (thought of as socially constructed processes not biological laws or instinct) • In depth insight, understanding, exploration, making visible, giving voice Beyond the positivism dispute – constructivist science; mix-methods research; rejection of dichotomies

5. Power Relations and Ethical Problems in Social Research Practice After the positivism dispute…. • We have not ‘overcome’ the problems of positivist research • But increasingly recognise the politically and ethically problematic nature of all research (including qualitative research) • We try to face up to, deal with, the difficulties by incorporating awareness of ethical problems, bias and power relations into our research practice…. we try to become ‘ethical’ researchers

6. Power Relations and Ethical Problems in Social Research Practice • Researchers’ own interests and bias • Interestedness of researcher in research subject (political views, practical interests, moral judgments…) • Funding bodies and their interests • Researcher as social subject with their own assumptions • Researchers as part of elite/dominant groups • Researchers as effecting research subjects (e.g. people sometimes say what they think researchers want to hear)

7. Power Relations and Ethical Problems in Social Research Practice • Research as domination • Imposition of categories – naming, labelling, ordering • (potential) misrepresentation • Normalising tendency of social research • Appropriation of people’s experience • Research data as dangerous/sensitive data • Criminality (e.g. research on sub-cultural practices, crime…) • Subjects of hatred/discrimination (e.g. sexuality, religion, ethnicity, politics…) • Vulnerability (e.g. depression) • Involvement in research itself (e.g. critiquing an employer)

8. Power Relations and Ethical Problems in Social Research Practice • Dealing with difficult topics • Discussing difficult topics can be troubling for research subjects (the people being researched) • e.g. researching child abuse; researching racism • Challenging people’s behaviours • Bringing up difficult memories • ‘Victimizing’ – making survivors into victims • Researching difficult topics can be compromising for researchers’ integrity and safety • Maintaining an appearance of neutrality can mean lying; or even accidentally condoning or encouraging behaviour • Talking to dangerous people and especially challenging dangerous people puts researchers at considerable risk • Covert research: ethically problematic; potentially very dangerous

9. General Principles of Ethical Practice

10. General Principles of Ethical Practice

11. General Principles of Ethical Practice

12. General Principles of Ethical Practice

13. Techniques of Ethical Research Practice • Use ethical guidelines • E.g. British Sociological Association Guidelines • Guidelines – not hard and fast rules • Writing the ethics statement • Show that you have considered the ethical implications of your project: you can work through the categories above or those listed in BSA guidelines • Set out a clear plan for maintaining standards of good practice and dealing with the ethical problems • If breeching ethical guidelines explain why, make public interest case • Obtaining ethical approval • Discussion with supervisor, peers and colleagues • Department/university ethics committee • Organizations' ethics committees (e.g. NHS)

14. Techniques of Ethical Research Practice • ‘Being moral’ or practicing ‘full reflexivity’ • An affective (emotional) practice and commitment • Caring about research subjects • Responding to people with empathy and humanity • ‘Being moral’ = being ‘for the other’…. Putting interests and feelings of the research subject first • Being responsible, developing ethical maturity • Constantly questioning yourself and your own assumptions • Being open to criticism • Being ready to change course, stop what you’re doing • ‘Full reflexivity’ as permanent practice of self-critique

15. Techniques of Ethical Research Practice ….. and a note of caution on research ethics • Following ethical codes can make us less responsible for ourselves, less ‘moral’, less ethically mature/reflexive (see Bauman on being moral; Foucault on enlightenment) • The pursuit of ethical/democratic research process can undermine the objectives and important practices of objective social research (see Hammersley in Seale Social Research Methods)

16. This Week’s Reading • Remember to download BSA ethical guidelines, have a read, and bring a copy along to the seminar.

17. This Week’s Reading • Two pieces reflecting on issues of ethics, power and research philosophy in relation to specific research projects • O’Connell Davidson – research project on sex worker ‘Desiree’; reflections on the power relations and ethical dilemmas involved in conducting research on a sex worker and her clients • Solomos & Back – research on racism in Birmingham; reflections on the impact of different ‘research ethics’ on the contribution of research to anti-racist politics • A literary piece to get us thinking about the power, ethics and beauty of writing • the acceptance speech of Toni Morrison on receiving Nobel prize for literature ; google ‘reach towards the ineffable’ if the link doesn’t work