Ethics in social research

Ethics in social research Ethics in research has been around since World War II and is still to this day a growing concern among researchers. The main aim of the researcher is to ensure that their studies are directed toward worthwhile goals and that the welfare of their subjects and their research colleagues is protected. Alan Kimmel, 1988 There are several reasons why it is important for an investigator to adhere to ethical standards in research. First, some of these norms promote the aims of research, such as knowledge, truth, and avoidance of error. For example, prohibitions against fabricating, forging, or misrepresenting research data to promote the truth and avoid error. Second, since research often involves a great deal of cooperation and coordination among many different people in different disciplines and institutions, many of these ethical standards promote the values that are essential to collaborative work, such as trust, accountability, mutual respect, and fairness. For instance, one particular ethical norm, confidentiality, is designed to protect intellectual interests while encouraging collaboration among the participants. Third, ethical norms in research also help to build public support for research. People are more likely to fund research project if they can trust the quality and integrity of research (this particular example is relevant to the scenario being assessed.) Finally, many of the standards of research promote a variety of other important moral and social values, such as social responsibility, human rights, and compliance with the law So although all these codes, policies and principles are very important and useful but like any set of rules they do not cover every situation that arises in research, they are often conflicting and require considerable interpretation. It is therefore important for the researcher to learn how to interpret, assess and apply various research rules and how to make decisions about how to act in various circumstances. The vast majority of decision making in the conduct of research involves the straightforward application of ethical policies. Ethical issues that are encountered in applied social research are both subtle and complex, raising difficult moral dilemmas that, from the outside, appear unresolvable. With these dilemmas the researcher is required to strike a delicate balance between the scientific or social requirement of methodology and the human rights and values potentially threatened by the research. Privacy and confidentiality are two ethical issues that are crucial to social researchers who request individuals to share with them their thoughts attitudes and experiences. The ethical social researcher is one who is aware of ways in which privacy and confidentiality may be jeopardised and safeguarded and is knowledgeable about the effects of privacy and confidentiality on consent. The nature of privacy concerns has changed over time as social scientists have become more involved in identifying social problems and testing possible solutions through field research (Boruch Cecil, 1979) Organisational research focus is directed toward personnel relating issues, including the testing and appraisal of employees for personnel decisions. In conducting these investigations, researchers and consultants may seek to improve on organisations capacities to achieve various goals (e.g. profit for a business, its employees quality of work life or the impact of the organisation on communities in isolate rural areas. Evaluation research is a major type of applied research, typically undertaken by social scientists to determine if ongoing social programs are working as they should. Evaluations tend to focus on programs that are beneficial in nature, such as remedial education, health care and job training programs. The results of an evaluation study, in revealing whether a social program is accomplishing what was intended can have immediate impact on social policy and political decisions regarding the programs fate whether it should be continued or stopped, its budget and personnel increased or cut backs made. There are a number of vested interests in the design and implementation of evaluation studies and because their results are likely to affect peoples jobs, education and health. Like research conducted in organisations, evaluation research raises some unique ethical questions about whose interests are served an whose point of view should be represented during the research process (Kidder Judd, 1986) With this particular scenario there are two different situations where ethical issues will arise. Firstly, you begin to suspect that food is being stolen from the kitchen and the viability of the project may be at risk. From a researchers point of view suspicions would need to be backed up with hard evidence. If you were to say to you manager, you run the risk of them discharging you and not allowing you to carry out anymore research how could you possibly imagine that of any of their staff? Although on the other hand if your manager was to take you suspicions on board and further investigate the matter over a closely surveyed period of time, they may benefit and appreciate your integrity that you hold with the company. In a case like this it is often difficult for the evaluator to separate their research role from their role as a work experience placement student. You have been promised the confidentiality of the staff and if you were to say anything about the stolen food it could affect your research and you rapport with the staff. The staff may turn against you and refuse to cooperate after you telling the boss on one of their colleagues. Throughout the research you must remember what the objective is and if you remain silent with your suspicions, will your results in anyway end up being bias? This will reflect an untrue outcome and the company could face further scrutiny from the funding body. There is also the legality aspect for the researcher to consider and stealing is against the law, could you live with yourself if you thought that you were covering up for a criminal, no matter how small the offence was? In failing to voice your suspicions Kimmel, (1988) stated you legally could face prosecution as an accessory after the fact for failure to report a crime. If I were to be placed in this situation I personally would confront the manager of the company and explain my situation with regards to my research. I believe that stealing is wrong and should not take place no matter how big or small the offence is. Although I can understand why somebody may not say and not only put their research at rick but their social responsibility. The second scenario where the researcher will be confronted by ethical dilemmas is in carrying out the interviews with some of the senior citizens that are receiving these Meals on Wheels. To carry out interviews you will need the consent of the person involved, some elderly clients may not like the prospect of being intimated with questions. The elderly are of the vulnerable sector in our population and should be informed of why the interview is taking place and the effects that their answers could have on the survival and funding of the business while always remembering the objectivity of the research and expressing it in clarity to the senior citizens. The interview will involve asking how they feel about receiving their Meals on Wheels, how they approve of the service and how would they feel if this service was to be taken away from them? This could cause distress and emotional shock among the elderly, especially if they thought that their opinion meant the deciding factor of whe ther the company received funding to continue its business. Many of the elderly could largely depend on this service and there must be no deception in making them fully aware why the interviews are taken place. The senior citizens should be made aware that the researcher will be evaluating and publishing their results to the company and will have to give an open and honest account of what has been said in the interviews. The researcher is under the obligation from the code of ethics so as not to fabricate the data in anyway. The researcher, if a member of the local community, may feel tempted to fabricate the interview responses so as the company will receive their funding to finance this project as they realise how vital this scheme is for the elderly in this isolated rural area but as Kimmel noted personnel values may play a significant role in social research, therefore researchers must be careful enough to protect the integrity of their inquiries through careful data collection and analysis and accurate and objective reporting of their research findings. If I were the researcher in carrying out the interviews I would make the elderly entirely aware of the project and encourage them to see how they are beneficiaries of it. This in return will boost their confidence of the company and help portray a better interview for the research. After all if you were a senior citizen who lived in an isolated area and the only person you may see everyday is the delivery driver of Meals on Wheels, wouldnt you appreciate the service? Not only are they providing a food service but they also help to bring a warm and friendly atmosphere into the home. In conclusion ethical decision making is neither a perfectly rational nor entirely timeless enterprise, and even after a considered judgement about the issues involved in a given situation has been made, doubts about whether or not ones subsequent behaviour was ethical may remain. As we continue to proceed with social research in applied settings, we can expect a growing wealth of documentation on the conditions under which certain interventions are successful in reducing certain social problems and on what side effects might be anticipated as a result of their implementation. To proceed ethically it is important for social researchers to bear in mind that their first obligation is to those persons who cooperate with and participate in the research process, and that it is their interests that first must be considered during the preparatory stages of program development. References Kimmel, A (1988) Ethics and Values in Applied Social Research Sage Publications London

Scott Joplin and His Musical Legacy :: Entertainment Biographies Papers

Scott Joplin and His Musical Legacy "He just got his music out of the air," said one neighbor. One cannot hear the word "ragtime" without thinking of the "King of Ragtime," Scott Joplin. He is clearly one forerunner in the field of American music, particularly at the turn of the twentieth century. Not only was he a genius in the musical frame of mind, he also displayed strong talents in other areas. He had a kinesthetic gift, as seen in the movements he created for his dramatic productions. It was often said that if times were different and not so segregated, he could have been a great choreographer. He was also talented in the interpersonal field, as his music touched so many people throughout the years. Through his efforts ragtime is now a respected form of music in our history, although he did not live to see this fulfillment of his dreams. Background Joplin's father, Jiles, was only a small boy when he was purchased in South Carolina and taken to Texas. He had the privilege of being one of the few black slaves to be a house worker, which decreased his chances of being sold. Jiles was freed in his late teens. Picking the last name of his former owner's son-in-law, he traveled south. There he met Florence Givens, who was freeborn. They married by "jumping over the stick," the only form of marriage available to blacks at that time. He was eighteen; she was nineteen. The Joplins were not a close family. It is said that the men "had traveling in their blood." Scott, the second of five children, was born on November 24, 1868. When he was a preschooler, they moved to the wild frontier town of Texarkana, Texas. Both Jiles and Florence were musically inclined and talented. Jiles played the violin, while Florence played the banjo and sang. They encouraged musical interest in the children, and all five had talent. Scott stood out above the rest. At an early age, he could pick out songs on his mother's banjo, on which he was proficient by age seven. He had perfect pitch and could duplicate any chord he heard. He had the ability, which he retained until the end of his life, to remember tunes and fragments he heard years before. He incorporated them with his own elements into original compositions. His talent did not go unnoticed. Area music teachers were impressed and offered instruction.

Open Religion Exam Review

What problem does global free trade cause? Explain â€Å"common good. † – the 3 essential elements for common good. What is social justice? 7 themes of Catholic Social teaching. What each theme teaches Explain globalization How much of the total world income do countries like Canada receive? How much of the total world income do the poorest people in developing countries receive? How has globalization become a nightmare for poor countries? Explain how globalization could lead to justice.Who is Craig Eagleburger. What issues does he care about? Who has he helped? How has he helped them? â€Å"Inside Your Threads†. What are the issues raised. How are these situations unjust? What could be done to bring justice to these situations? Who is Ryan Hershel? What issue does he care about? Who has he helped? How has he helped? Why are relationships important? Define intimacy. Briefly explain the 5 levels of intimacy Describe the stages Of the family life cycle. What Stage is your family in?What are the types of families? Describe the moral decision making model What are values? Describe standards for judging values Define or explain sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, heterosexual orientation, nonsexual orientation, abstinence, celibacy, chastity What are SST Is – list ‘bacteria caused' SST Is – treatment – list ‘virus caused' Stir – treatment 2 reasons why the Catholic Church calls for abstinence from sexual intercourse outside marriage What is Natural Family Planning (NAP)?What does it mean to be Catholic in today's society? Movies we watched this semester Power of One Stolen Summer Dan in Real Life Junk Ryan's Well It Take a Child Inside Your Threads pay it Forward Explain how each movie connects to a theme or topic discussed in class this semester.

History before the Revolutionary Era Essay Example

History before the Revolutionary Era Essay Example History before the Revolutionary Era Essay History before the Revolutionary Era Essay John Locke, the philosopher, stated that all individuals have the right to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Property.Thomas Jefferson, former President, suggested that Happiness should replace Property in Lockes statement.Most of Americans depend on the property to achieve happiness.For instance, before the American Revolution, slavery was used as a form of property, congregations did not have the freedom to explore other churches or religions, and the government set regulations that were not in the best interest of the public.The conflict between self-interest and public interest is a key reason to why the American Revolution began.Although, those that were more concerned with what was in the best interest of the public, the Republicans, won the American Revolution, conflict still arose from undergoing Republican ideology or the change for the better. The American Revolution attempted to escape political chaos due to the Loyalist Exodus, which ended support for the restoration of monarchy or kingdom.In May 1776, Congress passed a resolution calling for the authority to be totally suppressed and all the powers of government exerted under the authority of the people.Republican institutions did absorb the energy and intellect of an entire generation.However, Congress decision of, Who should rule at home?, or who would control the new representative institutions of government, led a generation of rival camps between the state and the central government. During the 1790s Alexander Hamiltons, secretary of the Treasury under George Washington, system of public finance and the ideas of the French Revolution also divided Americans into warring camps which led to organized political parties.

KiD CuDi, a Genre-Defying Artist Research Paper Example

KiD CuDi, a Genre KiD CuDi, a Genre-Defying Artist Paper KiD CuDi, a Genre-Defying Artist Paper Ghost Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, known better as KID CuDi, is considered a genre-defying artist. KID CuDis music classifies as hip-hop and rock, which seem to be opposites, but he effortlessly combines the two as if they were meant to be. CuDi released his most recent album on April 16, 2013 titled Indicud. Mad Solar was one of the more emotional and personal songs CuDi featured in his latest breathtaking albums. The song has an eerie feeling to it, but nevertheless, CuDi exonerates his feelings and inner thoughts into it. KID CuDi does not hesitate to open up the song powerful, stating that he is secluded and he questions if we really know one another. CuDi goes further into the first verse by stating that he knows that he is different and that no one understands him, but he is okay with being alone. Life and the people around others ultimately do affect their life, whether they are good or bad company. CuDi has been through bad times with recently dropping from G. O. O. D Music, drug abuse and withdrawal, child custody battles over his daughter, and even betrayal from who he thought were his riends. Those difficult times that made him question his life and pushed him towards loneliness, resulted in CuDi being cold blooded. Through all the hard times, music was an outlet to him. CuDi has changed because of the trials he has faced, and he has lost fans because of this change. If the public sees him a certain way, then that is perfectly fine to him because in the end he is doing well in his career. Fuck em is an expression used to show that the publics comments are disregarded in his mind because it is his life, not theirs. The hook is where KID CuDi is reaching out to those people who think he is and telling them that their opinion does not affect himself as a person. CuDi has always been known for being fascinated with outer space; his references with space symbolize being high, his inner thoughts, the loneliness and darkness that comes along with his life. The term Mad solar refers to a transition that he is making in his life and music career. Reaching a new step, he is satisfied with the altercations he has made to his life. Tying into the word solar, his life is brighter and more positive. CuDi wants the world to see his Juristic change, though their opinion is not relative, he wants to prove people wrong. The doubts that everyone has thrown at him make CuDi a more diligent artist; saying he is crazy and has changed ultimately fuels his fire to become back superior. KID CuDi gets into the heart of the song with the second verse. Through out the song, CuDi explained what he has been through but people continue to call him crazy though ne is living his lite the way ne wants to. He continues to say that his heart has been swollen, its been healin slow because he is still recovering from a break up with his girlfriend, CuDi does not want to age with out someone being there with him. This also refers to the ongoing custody battles for his daughter; he does not want to alone live at home with out her. Looking back on his life, there were moments that he realized some of who he thought were his friends, Just so happened to be skeptics. CuDi reflects on his life and what goes on through his head, trying to reach eep down and see if he truly knows himself. There were many dishonest people in CuDis life that were never really there for him, but claimed to know him. Years went on, being deceived by backstabbers whom he thought were close to him. Those people made him question who he really is and misjudge his future because they blinded him. He goes to say that there is not any room for people who take space up in his life anymore, if you are not really there for him then do not attempt to make a place in his life.

Contemporary Issues Assignment 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Contemporary Issues Assignment 2 - Essay Example This demographic appears as being unique because of societal stereotypes that with age comes ignorance as far as technology is concerned. Thus, the elderly are not expected by mainstream society to be frequent Internet users and vocal on sites such as social media platforms. This stereotyping has led to the loss of business opportunities by many corporates all over the globe (Aaker, 000, p.81). This can be extrapolated from the fact that silver surfers represent a market and workforce base that is more often than not unexploited almost in its entirety (Aras, 2009, p.55). Silver-Surfer demographic is relevant to any contemporary commercial organization primarily because of the timeline of operations of people in this group. A majority of people in this age demographic have retired from formal employment or are en route to do so in a few years. As a result, people in this age group do not have restrictions that are present in other age groups, the most common of which is time (Bratton, Jeffrey, 2000, p.201). People in this age group work on a more flexible timetable as opposed to their age groups where people are working multiple jobs at the same time (Bonhoeffer, 2001, p.91). This demographic group is therefore very significant in any contemporary commercial organization because of the flexibility of this group as far as time is concerned. Silver surfers present an operations base that is primarily unexploited. Society tends to shy away from the old in any formal setting. These emotions and reactions are fuelled by stereotypes that people in this age demographic are very dull as far as their social interaction is concerned (Schneider, 2004, p.50). The result is a very capable and highly experienced workforce that is greatly unexploited. Any contemporary commercial organization considering hiring silver surfers can use this as a public relations strategy to rid the world of societal

Urban Sociology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Urban Sociology - Essay Example Urban Sociology After some time we have seen that the lock on the main door was broken & the door is open.As the problem becomes big & big it is very hard to solve the problem and also the control the reoccurrence of the problem. Due to lack of time we are not able to repair the lock & the door remain open. After some time we found the glasses fixed on windows are also broken and the floor of the house is full of waste material. Time to time the condition of the house became worst. The material inside the house was theft and every thing was broken within a short span of time. If the lock of the door was repaired in time then definitely there will not be such damage in the house. So the broken window theory clearly state that if we take action initially then we can prevent big damage and crime. For this State of New Jersey announced a "Safe and Clean Neighborhoods Program designed to improve the quality of community life in twenty-eight cities. According to this program, police officer should move in the city without vehicle means they need to move on foot to minimize crime. The objective is to secure the citizen. Citizens in the foot patrol areas had a more favorable opinion of the police than did those living elsewhere. And officers walking beats had higher morale, greater job satisfaction, and a more favorable attitude toward citizens in their neighborhoods than did officers assigned to patrol cars. Jacob found the relationship between the environmental factors and the people. Jacob found how physical & social urban factor affect the life of people. Jacob discovered how environmental factors cause prevention of crime. Jacob hypothesized that urban residential crime could be prevented by reducing conditions of anonymity and isolation in that area. Jacob thought that crime rate is increasing due to attitude of the people towards their neighbors. Even neighbors do not recognize each others. That's why they do not know whether the stranger entering into the society is a member o f society or not. Jocb stated that high levels of natural surveillance created a safe environment. According to Jacob one of our best protections against crime is to live in a community where neighbors watch out for each other and stand ready to call the police or to intervene directly where they spot a criminal. (c.) Explain Duneier's criticism of the broken windows theory as applied to the Greenwich Village vendors and panhandlers he studied. Greenwich vendors & panhandlers were first studied by Jane Jacobs in 1961, after that she wrote a book "The Death and Life of Great American Cities, which represented Greenwich Village sidewalk interaction as the ideal for what makes up a "great" American city. Duneier revisited the Jacobs principal by went back to the neighborhood. On the sidewalk, he studied the vendors who are not having houses, scavengers, and panhandlers. While side walking he found that the people are filled with illegality, personal defect, and shame and also a world of mutual support, struggles for respectability, ingenuity, and resilience. Duneier's main agenda was to understand the ways in which "moral" behavior and "decency" affects the crime. He also found that the sidewalk was quite different than it was when Jacobs described it, when "eyes and ears upon the street" were presumed to make sidewalk life safe and comfortable. His method was participant observation, and he worked as a magazine scavenger and street vendor on and off during