Participant Observation and the Ethics of Social Research

The major thrust of this study is to resolve the ethical controversies surrounding informed consent and identity of the researchers in the conduct of research through participant observation as well as ethical standards in social science research. It recommends that research ethical standards should include concealment of researcher's identity when doing otherwise would endanger his/her life in the research process. It also canvases the legitimization of “deception” when the well-being of the entire society is involved particularly in the study of deviants with a view to formulating public policies drawing the strength of the argument from lack of absoluteness and universality in the conceptualization of ethics and ethical standards that are basically structured on morality within and outside the social science professional community.