Ethical issues matter because sociologists often study people’s private lives, difficult experiences and unequal social positions. Researchers should consider informed consent, so participants know what the research involves; confidentiality and anonymity, so identities are protected; harm and distress, especially when researching sensitive topics such as poverty, racism, care, health or family life; deception, where participants are not fully told what is happening; and vulnerable groups, such as children, young carers, disabled people, migrants or those in insecure work. The British Sociological Association describes its ethical guidance as a longstanding resource for sociologists, and its wider position is that ethical decisions often involve judgement rather than a simple checklist.
This Ethics Committee Simulator is designed for Cambridge OCR A Level Sociology students studying Component 02: Researching and understanding social inequalities. OCR expects students to understand practical, ethical and theoretical issues in sociological research, including ethics, access and gatekeeping, and to apply research methods to the context of social inequalities. In this activity, students act as members of a research ethics committee. For each proposal, they must decide whether to approve, amend or reject the study. The feedback explains key ethical issues and helps students practise AO2 application and AO3 evaluation.
Ethics Committee Simulator
Review each research proposal and decide whether to approve, amend or reject it. Use ethical principles to protect participants while still allowing useful sociological research to take place.
Proposal 1 of 9
Research proposal
Your ethics committee decision
Write your committee justification
Choose one proposal and write 3–4 sentences explaining your decision. Include at least two ethical concepts.
Ethics revision table
| Ethical issue | What it means | Example problem | Possible solution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Informed consent | Participants understand the research and agree to take part. | Participants are not told the real purpose of the study. | Use clear information sheets and consent forms. |
| Confidentiality | Participants’ personal information is protected. | A workplace study could reveal which employee criticised management. | Use pseudonyms, remove details and store data securely. |
| Harm | Research should avoid emotional, social, legal or physical harm. | Interviewing young carers about stress could cause distress. | Use support information, careful questioning and the right to stop. |
| Deception | Participants are not fully told what the study is about. | Covert observation in a workplace. | Only use if strongly justified; consider debriefing where possible. |
| Vulnerable groups | Some participants may need extra protection. | Children, migrants, disabled people, victims or those dependent on services. | Extra consent, safeguarding, accessible materials and careful risk assessment. |
| Gatekeeping | Organisations may control access to participants. | A school may allow access only to certain pupils. | Negotiate access while checking whether the sample is becoming biased. |
You can download a copy of the ethic summary from the link below:
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