RM : ISSUES

RM : ISSUES

1. ethical - morality of the research

   • confidentiality - personal information protected
   • deception - true aims aren't disclosed
     • Humphreys : adopted covert role as watch-queen and interviewed men for a 'health survey'
   • informed consent - decision whether to participate based on comprehensive information about the purpose of research
   • right to withdraw - refuse permission to use data produced
   • protection from harm - not experience negative physical or psychological harm
   • legality - researchers shouldn't engage in illegal activity
     • Venkatesh : colluded in gang violence with a Chicago crack-dealing gang
   • competency - capacity for researcher to deal professionally with issues
   • anonymity - remain nameless

2. practical - difficulties of carrying out the research

   • pressure to publish findings
     • desire for promotion
   • values and beliefs of the researcher
   • access - closed or open setting
   • time and funding influences scale and type of method
   • availability of existing data
   • personal skills and characteristics of the researchers - ability to develop rapport
     • Oakley : study of experience of becoming a mother in UK; woman researcher built trust in unstructured interview
   • personal safety of researcher
     • Venkatesh : held at gun point and kept captive for 24 hours

3. theoretical - standpoint of the research affecting choice of method

   • Hawthorn Effect
   • structural/social action
   • positivist/interpretivist
   • quantitative/qualitative
   • reliability/validity
   • generalisable/specific only to research
   • macro/micro
   • objective/subjective