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Ethical Practice
2017
www.britsoc.co.uk
BSA Statement
of Ethical Practice
This statement forms part of a 1. The purpose of the statement is to make both BSA members and
set of guidelines which relate to other sociologists aware of the ethical issues that may arise as
a variety of important aspects of they fulfil their varied professional obligations as sociologists and
professional sociology. to encourage them to take responsibility throughout for their own
ethical practice.
The British Sociological Association
gratefully acknowledges the use 2. The statement does not, therefore, provide a set of recipes for
made of the generic ethics principles resolving ethical choices or dilemmas (in the context of potentially
produced by the Academy of Social conflicting interests of the various parties involved), but recognizes
Sciences. We also acknowledge that it may be necessary to make such choices, drawing on
the ethical codes and statements of fundamental principles (congruent with those set out by AcSS).
the Social Research Association, the
American Sociological Association, the 3. Sociologists work within a wide range of settings (not just in
Association of Social Anthropologists academic sociology departments, but in a variety of adjacent
of the UK and the Commonwealth, disciplinary departments and research centres, with many
and the British Psychological Society. sociologists also working outside academia). Their role may
encompass the following:
Conducting Research
34. Sociologists should be aware that they have 39. There may be fewer compelling grounds for
some responsibility for the use to which their data extending guarantees of privacy or confidentiality
may be put and for how the research is to be to public organisations, collectivities, governments,
distributed. Discharging that responsibility may officials or agencies than to individuals or small
on occasion be difficult, especially in situations of groups. Nevertheless, where guarantees have
social conflict, competing social interests or where been given they should be honoured, unless there
there is unanticipated misuse of the research by are clear and compelling public interest reasons
third parties. not to do so.
Obligations, Roles and Rights 40. A common interest exists between sponsor,
funder and sociologist as long as the aim of the
37. Guarantees of confidentiality and anonymity social inquiry is to advance knowledge, although
given to research participants must be honoured, such knowledge may only be of limited benefit to
unless there are clear and overriding reasons to the sponsor and the funder. That relationship is
do otherwise – for example in relation to the abuse best served if the atmosphere is conducive to
of children. Other people, such as colleagues, high professional standards.
research staff or others, given access to the data
must also be made aware of their obligations 41. Sociologists should ensure that sponsors and/or
in this respect. By the same token, sociologists funders appreciate the obligations that sociologists
should respect the efforts taken by other have not only to them, but also to society at large,
researchers to maintain anonymity. research participants and professional colleagues
and the sociological community. The relationship
38. Research data given in confidence do not enjoy between sponsors or funders and social
legal privilege; that is they may be liable to researchers should be such as to enable
subpoena by a court and research participants social inquiry to be undertaken professionally.
should be informed of this. In research projects involving multiple funders
or inter-disciplinary teams, members should
consider circulating this Statement to colleagues
as an aid to the discussion and negotiation of
ethical practice.
48. When acting as commissioned researchers or 56. Sociologists have a responsibility to notify the
commentators, sociologists should not accept sponsor and/or funder of any proposed departure
contractual conditions that are contingent upon a from the terms of reference of the proposed
particular outcome/expression of a particular view change in the nature of the contracted research/
or set of findings from a proposed empirical inquiry commissioned report/review/commentary.
or review. A conflict of obligations may also occur if
the funder requires particular methods to be used. 57. A research study should not normally be
undertaken where it is anticipated that
49. Sociologists should clarify, before signing the resources will be inadequate.
contract, how far they are entitled to be able to
disclose the source of their funds, the personnel, 58. When financial support or sponsorship has
aims and purposes of the project. been accepted, sociologists must make every
reasonable effort to complete the proposed
50. Sociologists should also clarify their right to publish research/report/review/commentary on schedule,
and distribute the results of their research. including reports to the funding source.
51. There is an obligation for sociologists to ensure 59. Sociologists should seek to distribute their
that sponsors grasp the implications of the choice research findings/share their analyses as widely as
between alternative research methods, guarding possible and, where required, make their research
privileged information and negotiating problematic data available to other researchers via appropriate
sponsorship. archives.
52. In the course of discharging their duties as 60. Sociologists should normally avoid restrictions on
researchers or commentators, sociologists may their freedom to publish or otherwise broadcast
be furnished with information by the funder who research findings.
may legitimately require it to be kept confidential.
Methods and procedures that have been utilised
to produce published data should not, however,
be kept confidential unless otherwise agreed.
Sociologists should normally
53. When negotiating sponsorships sociologists avoid restrictions on their
should be aware of the requirements of the law
with respect to the ownership of and rights of freedom to publish or
access to data.
otherwise broadcast
54. In some political, social and cultural contexts
some sources of funding and sponsorship may research findings.
be contentious. Candour and frankness about
the source of funding may create problems of
access or co-operation for the social researcher
but concealment may have serious consequences
for colleagues, the discipline and research
participants. The emphasis should be on
maximum openness.