Ethical and political issues in contemporary research relationships

Article


Aldred, Rachel 2008. Ethical and political issues in contemporary research relationships. Sociology. 42 (5).
AuthorsAldred, Rachel
Abstract

This article discusses how ethical and political issues affect contemporary research
relationships. It focuses on the responsibilities of researchers studying organisations and elites, and the discussion draws upon the author’s experience of researching NHS primary health care services. The paper reviews the spread of “ethical guidelines” from medical to social research. Such guidelines primarily address ethical problems relating to individual researcher-researched relationships. Sociologists have criticised the application of medically-based guidelines to social research, while often accepting an ethical framework based on the researcher-researched dyad. But this limited conception of ethical responsibilities leaves complex organisational power hierarchies and their effects under-theorised. Researchers may then be vulnerable and lack guidance where organisational loyalties and market mechanisms have undermined the traditional supports of academic independence and professionalism. Sociologists could learn from critical medical scientists’ responses to some related ethical dilemmas, as some medical researchers have experienced these issues more acutely and for longer.

Keywordselites; ethics; NHS; institutional relationships; professionalism; contractualism; organisational research
JournalSociology
Journal citation42 (5)
ISSN0038-0385
Year2008
Accepted author manuscript
License
CC BY-ND
Web address (URL)http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0038038508094568
http://hdl.handle.net/10552/223
Publication dates
Print2008
Publication process dates
Deposited29 Jul 2009
Additional information

Citation:
Aldred, R (2008) ‘Managing risk and regulation within new local 'health economies': The case of NHS LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust)’ Sociology 42(5) 887–903.

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