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Ethics in Qualitative Research
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Ethics in Qualitative Research

Second Edition
Edited by:

September 2012 | 208 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

This fresh, confident Second Edition expands its focus on the theoretical and practical aspects of doing qualitative research in light of new ethical dilemmas facing researchers today.

In a climate of significant social and technological change, researchers must respond to increased ethical regulation and scrutiny of research. New sources, types of data and modes of accessing participants are all challenging and reconfiguring traditional ideas of the research relationship.

This engaging textbook explores key ethical dilemmas - including research boundaries, informed consent, participation, rapport and analysis – within the context of a rapidly changing research environment. The book effectively covers the ethical issues related to the data collection process, helping readers to address the ethical considerations relevant to their research.

This fully updated new edition:

  • Maps the changing and increasingly technology-reliant aspects of research relationships and practices
  • Provides researchers with guidance through practical examples, enabling those engaged in qualitative research to question and navigate in ethical ways


This book is essential reading for all those engaged in qualitative research across the social sciences.



Maxine Birch, Tina Miller, Melanie Mauthner and Julie Jessop
Introduction to the second edition
Rosalind Edwards and Melanie Mauthner
Ethics and feminist research: theory and practice
Tina Miller
Reconfiguring research relationships: regulation, new technologies and doing ethical research
Val Gillies and Pam Alldred
The ethics of intention: research as a political tool
Tina Miller and Linda Bell
Consenting to what? Issues of access, gate-keeping and 'informed' consent
Linda Bell and Linda Nutt
Divided loyalties, divided expectations: research ethics, professional and occupational responsibilities
Maxine Birch and Tina Miller
Encouraging participation: ethics and responsibilities
Jean Duncombe and Julie Jessop
'Doing rapport' and the ethics of 'faking friendship'
Andrea Doucet and Natasha S. Mauthner
Knowing responsibly: ethics, feminist epistemologies and methodologies
Pam Alldred and Val Gillies
Eliciting research accounts: re/producing modern subjects?
Natasha S. Mauthner
'Accounting for our part of the entangled webs we weave': ethical and moral issues in digital data sharing
Melanie Mauthner, Maxine Birch, Tina Miller and Julie Jessop
Conclusions: navigating ethical dilemmas and new digital horizons

This book is thought-provoking and challenges approaches to research that simply see a priori ethical consideration and approval. It is an important read for any ethically-minded serious qualitative and or quantitative researcher.

Esther Burkitt
University of Chichester


This book provides insight into ethical issues and provides researchers with a mirror to reflect on their own practices . Thus it makes a relevant contribution to the debate on ethics in qualitative research and hereby provides a number of relevant , critical reflections on the trends of digitization and standardization and the formalization of ethical standards. I would therefore especially recommend the book to qualitative researchers ( interviewers ).

Stefan Verweij
KWALON Journal

I have placed this book on my "Recommended" reading list for now.

Mr DOUGLAS ANDERSON
Humanities Fine Arts Dept, Front Range Community College
February 17, 2015

recommended reading

Abbie Fordham Barnes
School of Nursing and Midwifery, Keele University
December 30, 2013

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1


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