Social research raises some important ethical issues for the researcher.

Consent
It is important that the research process does not harm the alternativebalanceconfidentialityconsentdeceiveddevianceillegalobjectiveparticipantpublicationrelationships in anyway and that respondents should give their alternativebalanceconfidentialityconsentdeceiveddevianceillegalobjectiveparticipantpublicationrelationships.

Covert Research
Covert research by its nature means that the participant is being alternativebalanceconfidentialityconsentdeceiveddevianceillegalobjectiveparticipantpublicationrelationships. The BSA (British Sociological Association) suggests that covert research should only be used when there is no clear alternativebalanceconfidentialityconsentdeceiveddevianceillegalobjectiveparticipantpublicationrelationships and when the research is vital to the further advancement of knowledge.

Privacy
Sociologists need to maintain the alternativebalanceconfidentialityconsentdeceiveddevianceillegalobjectiveparticipantpublicationrelationships of their respondents. In some instances revealing the identity of the participant might cause adverse effects on their career prospects, personal alternativebalanceconfidentialityconsentdeceiveddevianceillegalobjectiveparticipantpublicationrelationships or safety.

Independence
Social researchers need to remain alternativebalanceconfidentialityconsentdeceiveddevianceillegalobjectiveparticipantpublicationrelationships and detached. If they are sponsored or funded by an external agency or business they should not let this influence either the research process itself or the alternativebalanceconfidentialityconsentdeceiveddevianceillegalobjectiveparticipantpublicationrelationships of their results

The Law
Sociologists of areas such as crime and alternativebalanceconfidentialityconsentdeceiveddevianceillegalobjectiveparticipantpublicationrelationships often witness and in the cases of participant observation may even take part in alternativebalanceconfidentialityconsentdeceiveddevianceillegalobjectiveparticipantpublicationrelationships activities. Such research is fraught with ethical dilemmas. It is important perhaps to alternativebalanceconfidentialityconsentdeceiveddevianceillegalobjectiveparticipantpublicationrelationships whether the importance of the knowledge gained from the research outweighs the harm caused by illegality.