Ethical Considerations

    OCR
    GCSE

    The British Sociological Association (BSA) Statement of Ethical Practice provides the mandatory regulatory framework for sociological enquiry. Candidates must evaluate the inherent tension between methodological validity (AO3) and the protection of participants (AO1). Mastery requires critical application of core principles—informed consent, anonymity, and protection from harm—to complex scenarios, particularly when researching vulnerable groups or employing covert methods. Responses must demonstrate how ethical constraints influence research design, sample selection, and the ultimate utility of data.

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    Objectives
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    Exam Tips
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    Pitfalls
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    Key Terms
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    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Award marks for precise use of BSA terminology (e.g., 'informed consent' rather than 'asking permission').
    • Credit responses that explicitly link ethical issues to specific research methods (e.g., the difficulty of obtaining consent in covert non-participant observation).
    • Candidates must evaluate the trade-off between ethical adherence and data validity (e.g., the Hawthorne Effect vs. Deception).
    • Reward the identification of specific vulnerable groups requiring enhanced protection (e.g., children, victims of crime).

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Award marks for precise use of BSA terminology (e.g., 'informed consent' rather than 'asking permission').
    • Credit responses that explicitly link ethical issues to specific research methods (e.g., the difficulty of obtaining consent in covert non-participant observation).
    • Candidates must evaluate the trade-off between ethical adherence and data validity (e.g., the Hawthorne Effect vs. Deception).
    • Reward the identification of specific vulnerable groups requiring enhanced protection (e.g., children, victims of crime).

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡When discussing 'Protection from Harm', explicitly mention psychological harm, not just physical.
    • 💡In 12-mark questions, structure your argument to show how solving one ethical problem might create a validity issue.
    • 💡Always reference the 'BSA Guidelines' by name to demonstrate AO1 knowledge.
    • 💡Use the acronym DR P (Deception, Right to withdraw, Protection from harm) to recall key principles under pressure.

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Confusing 'anonymity' (no names attached) with 'confidentiality' (keeping data private).
    • Stating that unethical research is 'illegal' (it is usually just against professional guidelines).
    • Failing to explain *why* an ethical issue is problematic for the specific context provided in the source.
    • Generic assertions that 'ethics are important' without referencing the BSA guidelines.

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    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Describe
    Explain
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    Evaluate
    Discuss
    Justify

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