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Ethics and researching ‘difficult’ topics

How do sociologists remain open and ethical when asking ‘difficult’ questions in research?

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As sociological researchers, we have a duty always to protect the safety and wellbeing of our participants. But what if talking about the topic you are researching has the potential to upset your research participants, or even leave them feeling worse? As sociologists, one of the biggest dilemmas we face is how to research something so personal and painful in a way that respects people’s dignity and does not cause harm.

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Previous

Question and answer: AQA Beliefs in society 20-mark essays

Next

Understanding data: Comparing social attitudes: then and now