Reconsidering the value of covert research: the role of ambiguous consent in participant observation
In this article, we provide a nuanced perspective on the benefits and costs of covert research. In particular, we illustrate the value of such an approach by focusing on covert participant observation. We posit that all observational studies sit along a continuum of consent, with few research projec...
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| Format: | Article |
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Sage
2017
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41131/ |
| _version_ | 1848796203536351232 |
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| author | Roulet, Thomas Gill, Michael Stenger, Sebastien Gill, David James |
| author_facet | Roulet, Thomas Gill, Michael Stenger, Sebastien Gill, David James |
| author_sort | Roulet, Thomas |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | In this article, we provide a nuanced perspective on the benefits and costs of covert research. In particular, we illustrate the value of such an approach by focusing on covert participant observation. We posit that all observational studies sit along a continuum of consent, with few research projects being either fully overt or fully covert due to practical constraints and the ambiguous nature of consent itself. With reference to illustrative examples, we demonstrate that the study of deviant behaviors, secretive organizations and socially important topics is often only possible through substantially covert participant observation. To support further consideration of this method, we discuss different ethical perspectives and explore techniques to address the practical challenges of covert participant observation, including; gaining access, collecting data surreptitiously, reducing harm to participants, leaving the site of study and addressing ethical issues. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:44:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-41131 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T19:44:15Z |
| publishDate | 2017 |
| publisher | Sage |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-411312020-05-04T18:58:03Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41131/ Reconsidering the value of covert research: the role of ambiguous consent in participant observation Roulet, Thomas Gill, Michael Stenger, Sebastien Gill, David James In this article, we provide a nuanced perspective on the benefits and costs of covert research. In particular, we illustrate the value of such an approach by focusing on covert participant observation. We posit that all observational studies sit along a continuum of consent, with few research projects being either fully overt or fully covert due to practical constraints and the ambiguous nature of consent itself. With reference to illustrative examples, we demonstrate that the study of deviant behaviors, secretive organizations and socially important topics is often only possible through substantially covert participant observation. To support further consideration of this method, we discuss different ethical perspectives and explore techniques to address the practical challenges of covert participant observation, including; gaining access, collecting data surreptitiously, reducing harm to participants, leaving the site of study and addressing ethical issues. Sage 2017-07-31 Article PeerReviewed Roulet, Thomas, Gill, Michael, Stenger, Sebastien and Gill, David James (2017) Reconsidering the value of covert research: the role of ambiguous consent in participant observation. Organizational Research Methods, 20 (3). pp. 487-517. ISSN 1552-7425 Covert research Covert participant observation Field observation Ethics in research Qualitative research http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1094428117698745 doi:10.1177/1094428117698745 doi:10.1177/1094428117698745 |
| spellingShingle | Covert research Covert participant observation Field observation Ethics in research Qualitative research Roulet, Thomas Gill, Michael Stenger, Sebastien Gill, David James Reconsidering the value of covert research: the role of ambiguous consent in participant observation |
| title | Reconsidering the value of covert research: the role of ambiguous consent in participant observation |
| title_full | Reconsidering the value of covert research: the role of ambiguous consent in participant observation |
| title_fullStr | Reconsidering the value of covert research: the role of ambiguous consent in participant observation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reconsidering the value of covert research: the role of ambiguous consent in participant observation |
| title_short | Reconsidering the value of covert research: the role of ambiguous consent in participant observation |
| title_sort | reconsidering the value of covert research: the role of ambiguous consent in participant observation |
| topic | Covert research Covert participant observation Field observation Ethics in research Qualitative research |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41131/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41131/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/41131/ |