Teaching qualitative research ethics in sociology
Publications on the teaching of qualitative research clearly state that practice makes perfect. But this observation, which also applies to the teaching of research ethics, raises a number of important questions or concerns. For example, is it appropriate for undergraduate university students to conduct a small-scale research project without the approval of an ethics committee ? Can any individuals, including potentially vulnerable individuals, be “used” as subjects for observation or interviews ? Should students be forewarned of potential problems or unpleasant surprises that may await them in the field ? Are some epistemological assumptions and approaches more ethically acceptable than others ? This article addresses these and related issues based on situations I have experienced over the course of my teaching career. It examines these concerns from the perspective of “ethical intentionality in research as opposed to research per se” (Sabourin, 2009 : 66).