An Alternative Ethics? Justice and Care as Guiding Principles for Qualitative Research. (September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hammersley, Martyn; Traianou, Anna
• Is Part Of: Sociological research online. Volume 19:Number 3(2014)
• Page Start: 104
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2014-09
• Subjects: Research Ethics -- Qualitative Research -- Justice -- Care -- Participatory Inquiry; Sociology -- Periodicals; Sociology -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Sociology -- Research -- Periodicals; 301
• DOI: 10.5153/sro.3466
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-7804

Abstract

The dominant conception of social research ethics is centred on deontological and consequentialist principles. In place of this, some qualitative researchers have proposed a very different approach. This appeals to a range of commitments that transform the goal of research as well as framing how it is pursued. This new ethics demands a participatory form of inquiry, one in which the relationship between researchers and researched is equalized. In this paper we examine this alternative approach, focusing in particular on two of the principles that are central to it: justice and care. We argue that there are some significant defects and dangers associated with this new conception of research ethics.