Chapter 6: Why the Biomedical Research Ethics Model Is Inappropriate for Social Sciences: A Response to ‘Responsible to Whom? Obligations to Participants and Society in Social Science Research’ by Matt Sleat

This chapter provides a response to the chapter ‘Responsible to Whom? Obligations to Participants and Society in Social Science Research’ by Matt Sleat (2017). I outline precisely why principles of decision making in medicine and the biomedical research ethics model do not easily transfer for use in the social sciences. In particular I urge against the social researcher moving from ‘thought’ (contributing to knowledge) to ‘action’ – which could have political consequences and create a fundamental change in disposition towards the researcher’s role in society.