Seduction of Ethics

'Sociologist and ethnographer Will C. van den Hoonaard has contributed immensely to social science as a researcher, teacher, and participant in the drafting of ethical guidelines for governing social research. When such an eminent sociologist invites examination of ethics and regulations of social research, what better way to do so than to present an ethnography of problematic decisions by ethics committees? This book will be an invaluable resource to research administrators, ethics committees, social researchers, and commissions seeking to find ways to revise the regulatory structure in a way that is fair and conducive to the conduct of social research.' -- Joan Sieber, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics 'The Seduction of Ethics is a significant work on a timely, important topic -- namely, the nature, outcomes, and unintended consequences of social science research ethics reviews. Will C. van den Hoonaard uses evidence-based analysis to move dialogue on these concerns from the informal to the formal, which is important to the ongoing development of research management and oversight processes. The Seduction of Ethics provides much for researchers and those participating in and providing support for research ethics boards to chew on.' -- Tim McTiernan, Assistant Vice-President, Government, Institutional, and Community Relations, University of Toronto; formerly Assistant Vice-President, Research and Executive Director, The Innovations Group, University of Toronto

Van den Hoonaard reveals an idiosyncratic and inconsistent world in which researchers employ particular strategies of avoidance or partial or full compliance as they seek approval from ethics committees.

Formal research-ethics committees in Canada now function as an industry, costing over thirty-five million dollars annually. The Seduction of Ethics argues that while ethics codes are alluring to the public, they fuel moral panic and increase demands for institutional accountability. Will C. van den Hoonaard explores the research-ethics review process itself by analysing the moral cosmology and practices of ethics committees regarding research and researchers.

The Seduction of Ethics also investigates how researchers have tailored their approaches in response to technical demands — leading social science disciplines to resemble each other more closely and lose the richness of their research. Van den Hoonaard reveals an idiosyncratic and inconsistent world in which researchers employ particular strategies of avoidance or partial or full compliance as they seek approval from ethics committees.