Ethical considerations in research (informed consent, confidentiality, protection from harm)

    AQA
    GCSE

    Candidates must demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the tension between methodological validity and ethical responsibility, governed by frameworks such as the British Sociological Association (BSA) guidelines. Responses must move beyond a mere listing of rules (informed consent, confidentiality, protection from harm) to evaluate the sociological consequences of ethical breaches. High-level answers will analyze how strict adherence to ethics can compromise data validity (e.g., the Hawthorne Effect in overt observation) versus the moral imperative of protecting vulnerable groups. This area assesses AO1 (knowledge of guidelines), AO2 (application to specific studies), and AO3 (evaluation of the 'ends justify the means' debate).

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    4
    Pitfalls
    3
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for precise definition of BSA guidelines: informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality, and right to withdraw
    • Credit application of ethical concepts to the specific context provided in the Item (e.g., researching criminal gangs or schools)
    • Candidates must evaluate the trade-off between ethical adherence and data validity (e.g., the necessity of deception in covert observation)
    • Reward analysis of specific risks to participants (psychological distress, labeling) and researchers (physical danger, legal implication)

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for precise definition of BSA guidelines: informed consent, anonymity, confidentiality, and right to withdraw
    • Credit application of ethical concepts to the specific context provided in the Item (e.g., researching criminal gangs or schools)
    • Candidates must evaluate the trade-off between ethical adherence and data validity (e.g., the necessity of deception in covert observation)
    • Reward analysis of specific risks to participants (psychological distress, labeling) and researchers (physical danger, legal implication)

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡Always cite the 'British Sociological Association' (BSA) when discussing ethical guidelines to demonstrate authoritative AO1 knowledge
    • 💡In 12-mark questions, explicitly link the ethical issue to the specific method (e.g., 'Informed consent is impossible in covert non-participant observation')
    • 💡Use the 'Item' to identify specific ethical hurdles; if the Item mentions children, immediately discuss the need for parental/gatekeeper consent
    • 💡Ensure the conclusion in evaluation questions weighs the sociological value of the data against the potential ethical cost to participants

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Conflating 'anonymity' (removing names) with 'confidentiality' (keeping data private/secure)
    • Failing to distinguish between ethical issues (moral principles) and practical issues (time, cost, access)
    • Asserting that covert observation is 'illegal' rather than 'unethical' or 'methodologically complex'
    • Ignoring the role of 'gatekeepers' when discussing consent for vulnerable groups like children

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss
    Evaluate
    Examine

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