Federal Regulations: Ethical Issues and Social Research

As the federal government elaborates its networks of control over social research, some investigators feel that federal regulations mean only increased costs and constricted research opportunities; others see the possibility of better research through the informed interaction between investigator and subjects that can be brought about by these same regulations. This book-in which responsible social research is defended as essential for intelligent social policy–pre-sents the effects of federal regulations on various research methodologies, with particular attention to their differential impact on qualitative and quantitative studies. It also presents material on the formation and nature of the federal regulatory system, the effects of research on the different kinds of populations studies, and the conflicts among professional associations with regard to regulation.