Ethics, Informed Consent, and Fieldwork

The scene is the lounge of the Washington Hilton, site of the Professional Social Scientists annual convention. A few people are drinking at the bar. In the center of the room three tables have been pushed together. Tankards of beer dot the tables and a number of people recline in the vinyl covered chairs. The men are mostly bearded individuals of middle age; four of them are puffing on well-worn pipes. Three younger women, cigarette packages on the table, smoke as they listen to the oldest of the men... "Hell, I don't know why they're making such a big deal about getting consent to do fieldwork. Why, when I was among the Itsitutsi nobody could give consent in any case--they were barely out of the Stone Age..." Mary smiles indulgently. "But Jim" she says, "You're behind the times. The question is not whether anybody could give you permission to observe and ask questions, but your ethical responsibility to consider your informants' position." At this Peter leans forward. His face is serious as he says very slowly, "You're both at extremes. Informed consent is something required by funding agencies. Why, if I had to get consent from or inform the persons I observe in my urban drug study, I'd be lost. I disguise myself and my small cassette recorder and try to play the role of a drug user." Jim motions to a waiter to bring them another round.