Case 45. Withholding Information

Situation

Withholding Information
A sociologist, Marlene Stepanski, is contracted to conduct a series of focus groups for a private foundation. The foundation does not want its name associated with the research because the foundation's research director believes the focus groups participants would not be honest in their discussions if they know the sponsor.

Questions

1.    Does the researcher have the right to withhold the name of the sponsor?
2.    Is this a form of deceptive research?
3.    What should the sociologist do if a participant asks who is sponsoring the research?
4.    Should Marlene have accepted the funding knowing that she could not reveal the sponsor?


     Reflect on the above questions and form your own answers before clicking the Discussion key to review the commentary provided with this case.

Discussion

There are a number of issues here. First, it is not necessarily a violation of the code if the name of the sponsor is withheld during the study. However, there should be some provision made to inform the participants either at the end of the focus group or the end of the project. Similarly, it is Marlene's responsibility to clarify the possible ethical issue prior to starting the research and if the research violates the code, she is expected not to do it. In both cases, the code states that checking with an IRB or similar body would help clarify the issues.