Crim MA Programme

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Crim MA Programme

• Dr Sal Watt

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Taking Risks

• Risk to who
• Researcher
• Time
• Place
• Physical safety
• Risk from who/what.
• Researched
• Early tradition of exploiting / patronising
  participants

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Early Experimentation

• Stanley Milgram 1961-62
• Aftermath - Holocaust
• Conducted experiments Conformity/Obedience
• 65 of participants shocked
• Highly Unethical
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vy6GxIuljT3w

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Stanford Prison Experiment

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?v2o0Nx31yicYfeature
  related
• Prof. Philip Zimbardo
• Basement of Psych Dept ? Prison environment
• Roles Guards / Prisoners
• Zimbardo Prison Superintendent
• Despite rules participants took on roles to an
  extreme degree Rebellion by prisons evoked
  abuse and violence from guards
• Colleagues had to step in and stop the experiment
  as things got completely out of hand

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Participant Observation

• Early study conducted by Humphreys 1975
• Mens toilets
• Observer-participant i.e. peripheral member of
  those being studied
• Male homosexuals
• Tea Room Trade - Watch Queen
• Tracked down over 100 participants - 54 were
  married
• Immense ethical issues
• Milgrams and Humphreys study
• Recording data tally, audio/visual recording,
  field notes
• Deception, protection from harm confidentiality
  and so on

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Ethical Guidelines

• Introduced to provide clarity for researcher
• Universal practices / professional code of
  conduct
• Protect the physical / psychological well being
  of participants
• Inevitably that includes their social identity
• Disciplines regulatory body that oversees and
  constantly review / update ethical guidelines
• Social Science
• British Sociological Association
• British Psychological Society
• Liverpool Hope University Psychology Dept
  Ethics Committee ensures the integrity of
  research
• Considers both students and staff research
  projects

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Ethics

• General criteria
• 1. Mutual Respect and Confidence
• 2. Researchers must share and promote good
  research practice
• 3. Take responsibility for own actions and accept
  legal ramifications should the rights or dignity
  of participants be infringed
• 4. From a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic
  viewpoint investigators must consider age, gender
  and social background and, any threats posed to
  participants in respect of, psychological
  well-being, health, values or dignity.

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Sensitivity to Research Topics

• Research question and questions to pose..
• Has the researcher undertaken a full literature
  review of the selected area competent
• Is it a socially / politically sensitive area?
• Does the researcher have the necessary experience
  and skills to conduct the research e.g. interview
  skills
• Why has the researcher selected the topic is it
  a personal cathartic journey .. Bias
• Smash n Grab research

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Personal Conduct

• Improper conduct that be detrimental to the
  participants
• Accept material gain
• Not exploit the relationship of influence or
  trust participants / colleagues
• General standards
• Ensure that credit for work is genuinely owned by
  the researcher
• Value evidence collected
• Ensure all equipment and physical locations safe

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Deception

• Withholding information / misleading
• Means end justification serious consideration
• Possible Qs to consider
• Can the research be conducted in a different way
• Have the participants been given sufficient
  information
• Consult / consider the effects of withholding
  information
• Withholding information or misleading
  participants is unacceptable if participants are
  likely to object or show unease once debriefed
• Participants should never be intentionally
  misled.
• If deception is unavoidable 3 criteria must be
  adhered to
• No other procedure/method available
• Participants informed at the earliest opportunity
• Consider / Consult on how withholding
  information will be received
• Debrief !!

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Consent

• Special care must be taken with detained
  individuals
• Researchers must be aware of their position of
  authority and not coerce participants
• Payment must not be used as such an inducement
• Repeated consent may be needed in longitudinal
  research

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Consent

• Special care must be taken with detained
  individuals
• Researchers must be aware of their position of
  authority and not coerce participants
• Payment must not be used as such an inducement
• Repeated consent may be needed in longitudinal
  research
• Give fully informed consent
• Record of this .
• Special care and safeguards must be put in place
  for children / adults with impairment
• Consent must be obtained for those under 16
  years. If this is not possible then consent must
  be obtained from the Ethics Committee

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Protecting Identity

• Participants must be assured of
• Anonymity
• Pseudonym or identifiable via a number
• If this can be assured then participants must be
  notified in advance (Data Protection Act)
• Confidentiality
• Data is secure / will be later destroyed
• Right and opportunity to
• Decline an interview / questions
• Withdraw their data
• Retrospectively (despite any payment made)
• Receive an interview transcript
• Outcome of the research
• Be respected
• Debriefed
• Entitled to know the full purpose and any
  implications of research

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Protection

• Researchers have a responsibility to protect
  participants and risk must be no greater than in
  everyday life
• Participants must be asked about any pertaining
  risks e.g. pre-existing mental conditions
• Participants must have the right/means to contact
  the researcher should risks/harm be incurred at a
  later point
• Participants must be given the right to decline
  enquiries of a personal/sensitive nature
• Care must be exercised when discussing the
  results of children with parents/caregivers

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Protection from Harm

• Risk Assessment
• Health implications
• Rights around withdrawing data at a later point
• how to do this ?
• No Research should cause physical / psychological
  harm
• Milgram (1963)
• 1 long term damage
• Means end justification?

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References

• Codes of Conduct determined by Professional
  Bodies
• www.britsoc.co.uk
• http//www.britsoc.co.uk/equality/issuesBSAmembe
  rs.htm_rel5
• www.bps.org.uk
• http//hopelive.hope.ac.uk/psychology/Information/
  ethics.htm
• http//hopelive.hope.ac.uk/psychology/LevelH/disse
  rtation/procedure.htm
• Bryman, A. (2004) Social Research Methods, 2nd
  Edition. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
• Neuman, W.L. (2006) Social Research Methods 6th
  Edition. London Pearson.