Ethical Decision Making in Social Research: A Practical Guide

This practical, user-friendly book is an invaluable guide to ethical decision-making in social research. Offering support and guidance throughout the research process - from designing research proposals and submitting them for ethical scrutiny to anticipating ethical dilemmas that might arise whilst research is being planned, conducted and reported - this is an essential companion for all professional researchers navigating the growing demands for ethical practice. Central to the book is a unique 'ethical review checklist', which guides ethical thinking at each stage of a research project. The checklist helps researchers to anticipate harms and benefits at the outset of a project, but also supports ongoing monitoring of ethical concerns throughout the life of a project - be it conducted by an individual, research group or commissioning body. Further features include a template for developing a robust research proposal, a glossary of terms and a list of useful websites. The book also draws extensively on case studies of ethical decision making, grounding moral problems in real-life examples. This paperback edition includes a new afterword and a risk matrix to be used in conjunction with the ethical review checklist. Written in an accessible and readable style to appeal to a range of needs, this guide provides much-needed practical advice to supplement the ethical codes and guidelines offered by professional associations in the social sciences, and is based on insight and understanding of the moral problems that social researchers routinely confront.

Table of Contents:
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK The Problem of Ethical Decision-making in Social Research Research Rationale -- Justifiable Interventions Researcher Identification -- Professional Integrity and Track Record Research Quality and Design Minimising Harm, Maximizing Benefit Selecting, Recruiting, Retaining and Releasing Participants Giving Information and Seeking Consent Monitoring Safety Strategies for Maintaining Privacy and Confidentiality Dealing with Vulnerability Involving Subjects in Research: The Public, Participants, Service Users and Carer Groups Disseminating Findings Systems of Ethical Approval and Formal Ethical Scrutiny Raising Ethical Awareness Afterword Ethical Review Checklist Template for Research Proposals Glossary of terms Useful websites References

About the Author :
RON IPHOFEN Social Scientist and until recently Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Healthcare Sciences, Bangor University, UK. He has been Vice Chair of the Social Research Association where he was responsible for updating their ethical guidelines and currently convenes their forum on research ethics. He was scientific consultant on the European RESPECT project and advised the Scottish Executive Social Research on procedures for ethical review. Other advisory roles include: UK Government Social Research Unit, UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, National Disability Authority (Ireland) and the National Centre for Social Research. He is co-author of Sociology in Practice for Healthcare Professionals.

Review :
"A brilliant book that covers a lot of territory and provides the reader with ample references to further explore many of the intriguing topics raised !. It provides great value for the researcher, student and policy maker. Dr. Iphofen's book goes far beyond the formulaic rules of ethics committees, and yet provides a practical guide for researchers and ethics committee members.' - Joan Sieber, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics (JERHRE) 'This is a pellucid, comprehensive and, most of all, practical guide to resolving the inevitable ethical dilemmas involved in human research. Its key message is that methodological rigour and innovative research outcomes are not incompatible with ethical soundness: quite the contrary, 'good science' is morally good science.' - Professor Jerome Bickenbach, Queen's University, Canada 'Drawing on a range of knowledge and experience, Iphofen gives a fairly comprehensive view of a rapidly developing field. This is more than an 'ethics primer' for social scientists, but it also avoids too much specialised analysis. It deserves a place in most university libraries and, if Palgrave brings it out in paperback, the shelves of social scientists with specific interest or responsibility for ethics and those whose research tends to raise ethical challenges.'- Nathan Emmerich, PhD candidate in the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work, Queens University Belfast and scholar-reviewer for the THE 'With the growth in interest in ethical decision -making advice is very welcome. Here it comes in the shape of a down to earth and very readable guide. A mixture of theory, practical advice and case examples this is an ideal book for both those who undertake research and those who commission and use it. And for people on research ethics committees this is a useful and readable account of the stages of research and the ethical issues involved' - Anthea Tinker -- Professor of Social Gerontology and Chairman of the King's College London Research Ethics Committee 'The book succeeds well in offering good practical advice to social researchers about the ethical dimensions of their work. The advice would also benefit those who would not describe themselves as social researchers -- analysts; consultants; market researchers; those undertaking service evaluations or audits' - Paul Dolan, Adviser/Research, Birmingham City Council in 'Social Sciences Research Group News' November 2009