Een wolf onder de wolven. Ethiek en Ethische Commissies in criminologisch onderzoek naar ‘the powerful’

Stroking Reflexivity Into Practice: The Pros and Cons of Resorting to Gatekeepers to Conduct Qualitative Criminological Research

“…Furthermore, when it comes to investigating "powerful" subjects, ethics questions in criminology seem to be more difficult to ask. This is especially true compared to research on victims, vulnerable groups, or delinquent young people (Faria & Eski, 2019). Likewise, when considering the ethical obstacles of conducting research with subjects selected by gatekeepers, it is crucial first to analyze how or to which extent ethics approval committees influence reaching out to participants through gatekeepers.…”

“…Likewise, when considering the ethical obstacles of conducting research with subjects selected by gatekeepers, it is crucial first to analyze how or to which extent ethics approval committees influence reaching out to participants through gatekeepers. On this matter, Faria and Eski (2019) provided thoughtful insight into how to ethically assess researchers and what challenges researchers may experience with ethics committees (ECs). The purpose of the authors' reflection was to gain a better understanding of (university) ethical policy in the current (neoliberal) context and to analyze whether current research ethics can be a control mechanism by and for the 'powerful' (Faria & Eski, 2019).…”

“…On this matter, Faria and Eski (2019) provided thoughtful insight into how to ethically assess researchers and what challenges researchers may experience with ethics committees (ECs). The purpose of the authors' reflection was to gain a better understanding of (university) ethical policy in the current (neoliberal) context and to analyze whether current research ethics can be a control mechanism by and for the 'powerful' (Faria & Eski, 2019). Both studies conducted by the first and the second authors presented in this article received the approval of the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of law and criminology of the University of Porto.…”

Top-down and out?

“…The articles of this issue challenge the idea of moral enterprises by pinpointing the central role of the neo-liberal agenda in the making and enforcement of rules. Likewise, the articles introduce (new) moral entrepreneurs outside the traditional spectrum in Becker's Outsiders; that is university ethical committees (Faria & Eski, 2018), doctors (Müller, 2018) and directors of Cannabis Social Clubs (Pardal, 2018).…”