Reflections on the Ethics of Social Experimentation

Macartan Humphreys

No wp-2015-018, WIDER Working Paper Series from World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER)

Abstract: Social scientists are increasingly engaging in experimental research projects of importance for public policy in developing areas. While this research holds the possibility of producing major social benefits, it may also involve manipulating populations, often without consent, sometimes with potentially adverse effects, and often in settings with obvious power differentials between researcher and subject. Such research is currently conducted with few clear ethical guidelines.

Keywords: Methodology (Economics); Experimental design; Qualitative research (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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