In the Tearoom Trade study, the researcher, Laud Humphreys, examined homosexual behavior in public spaces. Humphreys claims that his methods were in fact ethical, important for understanding human sexuality, and the only way he would have been able to carry out his research.
Respond to the following:
- What specific ethical issues does Humphrey’s study bring up according to this week’s readings and media?
- Are there any conditions for research where the value of the research findings would justify the violation of ethical codes? If yes, does Humphrey’s research meet that test? If no, then what would you have advised Humphreys to change in his methodology to conduct his intended research according to ethical codes?
- What specific ethical considerations should researchers keep in mind when studying public behavior in general?
- How might have Humphrey collected data for his study using self-report surveys rather than observational methods? What are some potential issues with using survey research in a research scenario such as this?