Ethics in criminological research: Old questions, new challenges

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

The ethical landscape of criminological research is complex and multifaceted, shaped by the sensitive nature of the subjects we study and the far-reaching implications of our findings (Cowburn, Gelsthorpe & Wahidi, 2016). Today, this landscape faces new and pressing challenges. Both authoritarian and democratic leaders are increasingly undermining academic integrity and institutions, posing significant threats to scholarly freedom. The advent of artificial intelligence introduces practical questions about maintaining research integrity while leveraging new technologies. Additionally, the design of the publishing market and, in particular, the rise of predatory journals jeopardizes the quality and credibility of academic work, impacting researchers and the broader process of knowledge creation.
This panel will explore these contemporary ethical dilemmas, offering insights and strategies to navigate the evolving terrain of criminological research. This panel will trace the ethical question across the research process from the beginning with the question of what theories and concepts we choose to research in practice, as which methods we choose and why, and, finally, how we approach post-research stage: publication and outreach.

Subtopic

• Topic 8: Methodologies in Criminology / Advances in Qualitative Methods (Qualitative Methods WG)

Chair

• Amr Marzouk, Erasmus University Rotterdam

Individual Presentations

• How to speak of the emperor’s attire: Ethics of researching authoritarian contexts - Amr Marzouk, Erasmus University Rotterdam

• Reflecting on ethics (1) - Michele Jane Burman, University of Glasgow

• Reflecting on ethics (2) - Loraine Gelsthorpe, University of Cambridge

• Predatory journals’ impact on research ethics and integrity - Rita Faria, CIJ - Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Justice, University of Porto