Covert research and adult protection and safeguarding: an ethical dilemma?
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-07-2013-0029 |
| Published date | 04 February 2014 |
| Pages | 29-40 |
| Date | 04 February 2014 |
| Author | Jonathan Parker,Sara Ashencaen Crabtree |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection |
Covert research and adult protection
and safeguarding: an ethical dilemma?
Jonathan Parker and Sara Ashencaen Crabtree
Professor Jonathan Parker is
a Deputy Dean (Research) and
Dr Sara Ashencaen Crabtree is
a Principal Lecturer, both are
based at School of Health and
Social Sciences, Bournemouth
University, Bournemouth, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to consider the contentious issue of covert research in studying the social
contexts of vulnerable groups. It explores its potential utility in areas where overt strategies may be
problematic or denied; and examines and problematises the issue of participant consent.
Design/methodology/approach – Using a literature-based review and selected previous studies, the
paper explores the uses and abuses of covert research in relation to ethics review proceedings governing
social research, with an especial focus on vulnerability.
Findings – Findings indicate that although the use of covert research is subject to substantial critique by
apparently transgressing the often unquestioned moral legitimacy of informed consent, this carries ethical
and practical utility for research related to safeguarding concerns. Arguably covert research enables
research access to data likely to reveal abusive and oppressive practices.
Research limitations/implications – Covert research assists in illuminating the hidden voices and lives of
vulnerable people that may otherwise remain inaccessible. Such research needs to be subject to rigorous
ethical standards to ensure that it is both justified and robust.
Practical implications – Emphasising the need to consider all angles, questions and positions when
addressing the social problem of adult protection and safeguarding.
Originality/value – Increasingly social research is treated as being as potentially harmful as medical
research. Ethics review tends towards conservative conformity, legitimising methodologies that may serve
less social utility than other forms of investigation that privilege the safeguarding of vulnerable people.
Keywords Safeguarding, Vulnerability, Research ethics, Covert research, Informed consent
Paper type Conceptual paper
Introduction
Research ethics represent a moral talisman that is claimed and invoked to secure legitimate
membership of a “righteous” club. Research ethical scrutiny is assumed as a uniform and
universal good, and rarely questioned. In earlier research, we considered some of the
complicating and problematising issues in developing rigid one-size-fits-all ethical review
protocols, and examining the potential consequences of the requirements of the Mental
This paper explores some of the possible uses, benefits and drawbacks of covert research
in situations of adult safeguarding, making some comparisons with undercover journalism,
and considering some of the ethical questions these approaches may raise. The development
of ethical scrutiny of research is examined in terms of the sociology of organisational legitimacy
(Dingwall, 2008; Parker et al., 2010, 2011), and some of the problems with uniform ethical
scrutiny are identified.
Research ethics
There is general agreement on the ethical principles that underpin biomedical research and its
scrutiny.Beauchamp and Childress’ (2009) articulation of biomedical ethics is perhaps the most
DOI 10.1108/JAP-07-2013-0029 VOL. 16 NO. 1 2014, pp. 29-40, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAGE 29
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