Navigating Ethical Disagreements in Social Research: A Practical Guide

Samir D’Costa in Law & Justice August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Understand how to manage conflicting ethical viewpoints and ensure responsible research practices."

In the realm of social research, ethical considerations often spark lively debate. Differing values and perspectives can lead to disagreements about the acceptability of research practices. This article delves into a critical discussion surrounding these ethical disagreements, particularly focusing on a response to the perspectives of Martyn Hammersley, a prominent voice in this field.

We begin by addressing the core disagreement: the justification for a social research ethics governance model. Understanding this foundation is crucial for navigating the complexities of ethical review processes. A robust governance system should acknowledge the spectrum of ethical considerations, ensuring that decisions are made with fairness and transparency.

Drawing from a response to Hammersley's arguments, this guide aims to clarify how a well-structured governance system can address specific ethical concerns while fostering an environment of reasonable disagreement. Let's explore how these claims shape the landscape of social research ethics.

Why Ethical Governance Matters in Social Research

At the heart of the discussion is the need for a governance system that respects diverse ethical viewpoints. Such a system should not prioritize specific values over others but rather ensure that decisions regarding research acceptability are free from undue influence or bias. This means avoiding the exaggeration of particular concerns or perspectives, creating a level playing field for ethical considerations.

Hammersley raises concerns about moralism and the potential for systems to overemphasize certain ethical aspects. We share these concerns and advocate for a governance approach that actively mitigates them. This involves a case-by-case decision-making process, held publicly accountable, within the context of reasonable disagreement. This approach ensures transparency and fairness in ethical evaluations.

Here are some common ethical considerations in social research:

Harm Minimization: Ensuring the safety and well-being of participants.
Respect for Autonomy: Upholding the rights and choices of individuals involved in the research.
Protection of Privacy: Safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining confidentiality.

However, Hammersley argues that the researcher, as an autonomous professional, is best positioned to weigh these considerations. This perspective assumes that researchers can effectively balance the pursuit of 'value-relevant knowledge' with ethical constraints. But is this always the case? There is a risk that researchers, deeply invested in their work, may inadvertently prioritize knowledge production over ethical safeguards, potentially leading to moralistic biases.

Striking a Balance: Collaborative Ethical Decision-Making

Navigating ethical disagreements in social research requires a commitment to open dialogue, transparent processes, and a willingness to consider diverse perspectives. By embracing a collaborative approach, researchers, ethics committees, and the wider community can work together to ensure that social research is conducted responsibly and ethically, fostering both knowledge and trust.

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Everything You Need To Know

What does ethical governance mean in social research and why is it so important?

Ethical governance in social research refers to the structures and processes in place to ensure research is conducted responsibly and ethically. It's important because it provides a framework for navigating conflicting ethical viewpoints, ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability in research practices. Without it, there's a risk of undue influence or bias in ethical evaluations, potentially leading to the exaggeration of particular concerns or perspectives. It also ensures important considerations such as, Harm Minimization, Respect for Autonomy and Protection of Privacy are considered.

What is moralism and how does it affect ethical decisions in social research?

Moralism, in the context of social research, refers to the overemphasis of certain ethical aspects or values over others. It's problematic because it can lead to biased decision-making and a failure to consider diverse ethical viewpoints. A robust governance system is needed to actively mitigate moralism by ensuring decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, held publicly accountable, and within the context of reasonable disagreement.

What is Hammersley's view on ethical considerations in social research, and what are the implications of this perspective?

Hammersley's perspective suggests that researchers, being autonomous professionals, are best positioned to weigh ethical considerations themselves. The implication is that researchers can effectively balance the pursuit of knowledge with ethical constraints. However, this perspective is debated because there's a risk that researchers, deeply invested in their work, may inadvertently prioritize knowledge production over ethical safeguards, potentially leading to moralistic biases. Because of this debate collaborative ethical decision-making is required.

What is collaborative ethical decision-making and why is it important for responsible research?

Collaborative ethical decision-making involves researchers, ethics committees, and the wider community working together to ensure that social research is conducted responsibly and ethically. This approach is significant because it promotes open dialogue, transparent processes, and a willingness to consider diverse perspectives. By embracing collaboration, research can foster both knowledge and trust, avoiding some of the pitfalls of a researcher led autonomous approach.

What is pre-emptive governance in social research and how does it contribute to ethical research practices?

Pre-emptive governance in social research refers to establishing ethical guidelines and frameworks before research begins. This proactive approach is important for preventing ethical disagreements and ensuring responsible research practices from the outset. By anticipating potential ethical challenges, researchers and ethics committees can work together to develop strategies for addressing them, promoting fairness, transparency, and accountability throughout the research process. However, as mentioned by Hammersley, there is a risk of moralism that needs to be avoided with transparent processes.