Sociology and the New Ethics Disorder

The focus of this chapter is on the consequences of the advent of ethical regulation for sociological research and, in particular, for qualitative research in sociology. These consequences are not uniform for all qualitative researchers, the paper argues. Those who take a 'collaborative' approach deplore the bureaucratisation of social relations that ethical regulation imposes. However, they share many of the values that inspired the culture of 'informed consent' and ethical control. The consequences are far worse for those who draw on the sociological tradition of conflict or so-called 'radical humanism'. Indeed, in the latter perspective, researchers very often resort to investigative methods, and in particular to covert research, i.e. to a set of research techniques that have become almost impossible to use in the age of ethical censorship. The consequences of this trend for social research are serious: a) reduced public relevance of sociology (in favour of investigative journalism); b) exaltation of a purely individualistic view of social life; c) implicit renunciation of the right/duty of free speech.