Ethical Challenges for Anthropological Research - Free Essay Example

The value of anthropological research in comprehending the social phenomenon is undeniable. The perceptions obtained from seeking the insights of various groups of offenders or individuals of how one makes their lives have gained many contemporary sociological and anthropological research. Anthropological research includes various complex designs, and in most cases, they hardly play out as initially constructed. While conducting anthropological research, the anthropologists will face several ethical issues that bring about the ethical dilemma and problems while conducting the research. This paper will examine and describe the ethical challenges and problems that I, as an anthropological researcher, faces while conducting the anthropological research on drug dealers and new items that I learned as I live and conduct among the identified group of people.

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Usually, anthropologists stress that ethical procedures are significant to all aspects of anthropological research. Considerable attention has been directed to ethical consideration and ethical challenges concerning research studies' contributors. However, the ethics challenges go past the consent form, guaranteeing participants or contributors that their confidentiality and privacy of the information is adhered to and protected. In conducting anthropological research on drug dealers, it was essential that I gain access to the drug dealers atmosphere to comprehend hidden codes and establish a rapport with the contributors or the research participants, To balance the insider and the outsider role to enable me to get the data required and publish significant research, the following ethical problems and challenges were faced.

Approaching the Participants

One of the main challenges of drug dealing research is obtaining a research participant or responded in the anthropological research as an anthropologist. In most cases, the illicit drug peddlers will decline, giving information thinking that one is undercover police. And in attempts to seek information, one may even get injured since the art of approaching and convincing the participants does not conform with their way. Hence, in most cases, to obtain relevant data, one needs to be one of "them" this means as a researcher, I start taking drugs and hang out with the drug dealers. As a researcher, taking drugs was important since it created and established a strong social bond. This helped drug peddlers to open up and give vital information to complete the research.

Also, another ethical challenge was on security and safety. As suggested by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) that for the safety of the researcher, I should wear bulletproofs and also carry a protective weapon in case a fight erupts. This act is against the research's ethical standards since the contributors must also be assured of their safety and security. Also, it was unethical to endanger the researcher's life by carrying out research in unsafe places. Most drug dealers carry out their operations in places that guarantee no safety, but as a researcher, I was vital to go to those extremes to fetch data.

There are some things that I have learned about myself from conducting the research is that I cannot give in to pressure. Despite the pressure from the research participants that I use drugs for them to believe my consciousness and intention are clear, I did not bow to the pressure. I stood my ground for not using drugs. Also, it is very vital to have a cordial relationship with the interviewees. It is important to inform them what you are doing and never downplay their intellectual capacity.