Reconsidering the Value of Covert Research

Abstract

In this article, we provide a nuanced perspective on the benefits and costs of covert research. In particular, we illustrate the value of such an approach by focusing on covert participant observation. We posit that all observational studies sit along a continuum of consent, with few research projects being either fully overt or fully covert due to practical constraints and the ambiguous nature of consent itself. With reference to illustrative examples, we demonstrate that the study of deviant behaviors, secretive organizations and socially important topics is often only possible through substantially covert participant observation. To support further consideration of this method, we discuss different ethical perspectives and explore techniques to address the practical challenges of covert participant observation, including; gaining access, collecting data surreptitiously, reducing harm to participants, leaving the site of study and addressing ethical issues.

Between Pleasure and Resistance: The Role of Substance Consumption in an Italian Working-Class Subculture

“…I applied a "data-saturation logic" [58] to the research, which signifies that I interrupted the field visits once my observations begun to repeat themselves in terms of contents and plausible theoretical and analytical considerations. I adopted a "covert participant observations methodology" [59], namely a form of research where the researcher participates in the cultures, groups or organizations he or she is observing whilst hiding his or her true identity as a researcher. Covert participant observations have a long-standing and contested history within the social sciences in general and sociology more specifically.…”

“…For the moment it is enough to notice how during the 1950s and 1960s, the School of Chicago popularized this methodology through a number of studies [60], discussing for instance the every-day-life of taxi drivers [61], factory workers [62], or jazz clubs [63]. Other notable studies that testify to the relationship between covert participant observations and sociological research are: Humphreys's [64] To summarize the pros and the cons of this method, covert participant observations have been praised for their ability to study organizations, institutions and groups that otherwise-through overt methodologies-would not have guaranteed formal consent to the research; for their ability to provide unobtrusive observations [59,70] and contribute to the study of specific groups and the demystification of their supposedly 'deviant' behaviors. For example, Goffman's [66] research helped to see mental health patients as individuals whose rights were systematically violated; while Humphreys's [64] study contributed to the demystification of homosexuality as a pathology.…”

“…For example, Goffman's [66] research helped to see mental health patients as individuals whose rights were systematically violated; while Humphreys's [64] study contributed to the demystification of homosexuality as a pathology. However, covert participant observations have also been criticized for depriving informants of the right to refuse participation or to withdraw from the research study [59]; for violating the "principle of informed consent" [71] (p. 252); and even for the dubious ethical validity of the data collected [59]. In fact, the data collected through covert research methodologies are usually gathered in situations where the participants being observed may engage in behaviors they do not wish to be recorded [69].…”

Digital media and the modern-day pet trade: a test of the ‘Harry Potter effect’ and the owl trade in Thailand

“…Since each group acted as a 'market platform' for buying and selling wildlife, we used a typical economic market ap proach and implemented market survey protocols in each monitoring session (see Barber-Meyer 2010, Nekaris et al 2010). Due to the potentially sensitive content, we followed the guidelines of Roulet et al (2017) to conduct covert observations. We did not interact with any participants and only collected openly available information.…”

The enduring field: Exploring researcher emotions in covert research with antagonistic organisations

“…Covert research, conducted without disclosing to research participants that they are being studied, involves embodying deception to an extent that the strain of maintaining the deception may become damaging to the researcher (Homan, ; Spicker, ). Researchers conceal their identities as they embed themselves in organisations or groups by “purporting to play some other role” (Vinten, , p. 33; see also Gephart, ; Roulet et al., ). This concealment adds another dimension to “role strain,” as rather than maintaining neutrality, researchers must “play along” so as to fit in (Drake & Harvey, ).…”