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<TITLE>Re: [Air-l] research methodology - justification internet and lying</TITLE>
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Just a quick addendum to Annette's excellent (as usual) suggestions...<BR>
She's absolutely right, from my perspective, regarding the value and quality of the Mann and Stewart volume - especially the chapter on ethics.<BR>
In addition to everything else that has been said (including in the aoir ethics report), I'd wonder if the following might also be helpful.<BR>
I've suggested a version of the Golden Rule (yes, I know, it's been criticized - the reference is in the aoir ethics report - but I think that criticism can be countered) that runs as follows:<BR>
<BR>
<FONT FACE="Times New Roman">"Never treat a person who participates in research in a way you would not be comfortable explaining to that person face to face" and <BR>
"before you decide on how to conduct your research, ask yourself: If I was the person who take part in research, how would I like to be treated?"<BR>
</FONT><BR>
To get to this in a slightly different way: if<BR>
(a) there is a good probability of benefits emerging from your research, and<BR>
(b) whatever risks might result from your lies accruing to the participants would be small, <BR>
- would your situation be analogous to <BR>
the sorts of lies we tell people (e.g., because we may be required to by reason of confidentiality (very serious) to the more pedestrian sorts of white lies (keeping a surprise for a birthday party, etc.) that, while uncomfortable at the time, are lies that, once revealed, <I><U>they agree are justified </U></I>(on grounds of beneficence, etc.)?<BR>
If so, then perhaps such lies are ethically justifiable.<BR>
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Hope this helps - and cheers!<BR>
<BR>
Charles Ess<BR>
Director, Interdisciplinary Studies Center<BR>
Drury University<BR>
900 N. Benton Ave. Voice: 417-873-7230<BR>
Springfield, MO 65802 USA FAX: 417-873-7435<BR>
Home page: http://www.drury.edu/ess/ess.html<BR>
Co-chair, CATaC 2002: http://www.it.murdoch.edu.au/~sudweeks/catac02/<BR>
<BR>
Exemplary persons seek harmony, not sameness. -- Analects 13.23<BR>
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<B>From: </B>Annette Markham <amarkham@uic.edu><BR>
<B>Reply-To: </B>air-l@aoir.org<BR>
<B>Date: </B>Tue, 19 Nov 2002 12:37:01 -0600<BR>
<B>To: </B>air-l@aoir.org<BR>
<B>Subject: </B>Re: [Air-l] research methodology - justification internet and lying<BR>
<BR>
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<FONT SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="Arial"><remainder deleted to meet space requirements of air-list></FONT></FONT>
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