As a former Masters student and novice qualitative researcher, had I had more insight into the complexities around ethics detailed in this book before entering the field I may well have been better equipped to deal with some of the more problematic issues I encountered.<br /><b>Chloe Roberts<br />Action Learning: Research & Practice</b>
What is ethical acting in qualitative research, what want to say it when you act ethical or unethical, and just imagine that how solid are questions at the heart of this book. The introduction is also immediately announced that answering these questions is not easy and that the answers given by the authors are controversial. Such a statement makes me curious and will read something very new in the hope you go with the book to get started. (Translation).
- Lammert Gosse Jansma, KWALON
The authors argue that the starting point for any discussion of research ethics must be the values intrinsic to research, above all the commitment to knowledge-production. However, the pursuit of inquiry is rightly constrained by external values, and the book focuses on three of these: minimising harm, respecting autonomy, and protecting privacy. These external values are shown to be far from unequivocal in character, often in conflict with one another (or with the commitments of research), and always subject to situational interpretation and practical judgment. Nevertheless, it is contended that in the present challenging times it is essential that qualitative researchers uphold research values.
Martyn Hammersley is Professor of Educational and Social Research at The Open University.
Anna Traianou is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Educational Studies, Goldsmiths, University of London.