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Radio 4,02 Jun 2026,28 mins

Ethics in sociological research

Thinking Allowed

Available for over a year

What does it mean to undertake "ethical" research in complex and changing social settings? Marion Vannier, from the University of Manchester, uses diaries and letters written by prisoners in her research with older men serving life sentences. Her work, including 鈥楶roject Hope鈥, offers an insight into the experience of ageing behind bars, showing how ideas such as 鈥渉ope鈥 aren't always a positive. She discusses the difficult questions about trust, representation and responsibility when putting prisoners鈥 own voices centre stage and in the public domain. Helen Busby is an independent research Ethics Advisor who has edited a new collection of essays Reframing Qualitative Research Ethics. She argues ethics cannot be reduced to fixed rules or procedural checklists, but are shaped by negotiation, reflection and the realities of research practice. The book brings together detailed case studies of dilemmas encountered in the field, alongside proposals for reform, including a more flexible review processes, discipline-specific approaches and a broader emphasis on research integrity. Producer: Natalia Fernandez Editor: Robyn Read

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