The Pros And Cons Of Informed Consent

1. Informed consent- The words “informed consent” are only mentioned twice in the ACJS code of ethics. Specifically, the code states that “informed consent should be obtained when the risks of research are greater than the risks of everyday life.” It is also included that in situations where individuals are illiterate, under correctional supervision, minors, have low social status, are under judicial supervision, have diminished capacity, are unfamiliar with social research or otherwise occupy a position of unequal power with the researcher, culturally appropriate steps should be taken to secure informed consent.

Confidentiality- According to the ACJS ethics code, “subjects of research are entitled to rights of personal confidentiality

The American Anthropological Association (AAA)

Informed Consent- According to the American Anthropological Association (AAA), informed consent is a complicated process. Their Statement on Ethnography and Institutional Review Boards adopted by the AAA Executive Board in June of 2004 states that informed consent has three components: communication of information, comprehension of information, and voluntary participation. The researcher should inform potential participants of the procedures of research and purposes for it, the risks and benefits of the study, and how their information will be protected and stored.

Confidentiality- In regards to confidentiality, the AAA Code of Ethics states that “Anthropological researchers have primary ethical obligations to the people, species, and materials they study and to the people with whom they work,” and are cautioned to “do everything in their power to ensure that their research does not harm the safety, dignity, or privacy of the people with whom they work, conduct research, or perform other professional activities” (AAA). To this point one can see that it is expected for information that is obtained to be protected in order to ensure the safety of the subjects of the