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The APSA Confidentiality in Social Science Research Project: A Final Report

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2022

James D. Carroll
Affiliation:
Syracuse University
Charles R. Knerr
Affiliation:
University of Texas, Arlington

Extract

In 1973 a research project was initiated by the American Political Science Association to investigate problems surrounding the establishment and maintenance of confidential relationships between scholarly researchers and research subjects. The effort was funded by the Russell-Sage Foundation and co-sponsored by all the various national social science associations.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The American Political Science Association 1976

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Footnotes

*

APSA Representatives of the Research Data Project Board are David Fellman, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, and Evron Kirkpatrick, Executive Director, APSA.

References

1 For a review of the origins of the research and for an interim report, see Carroll, James D. and Knerr, Charles R., “A Report of the APSA Confidentiality in Social Science Research Data Project,” PS: Political Science & Politics (Summer 1975), pp. 258261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

2 A sample survey instrument and a detailed summary of findings may be obtained from the authors.

3 For a review of this incident, see Carroll, James D., “Confidentiality of Social Science Research Sources and Data: The Popkin Case,” PS: Political Science & Politics (Summer 1973), pp. 268280.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

4 Research Data Project Case 023.

5 For a review of these incidents, see Tyler, Robert M. and Kaufman, Doris, “The Public Scholar and the First Amendment,” George Washington Law Review 40:5 (July 1972), pp. 9951023.Google Scholar

6 Research Data Project Case 010. See “U.S. Court Sheilds Data of Scholar,” New York Times, June 13, 1976, at p. 29.

7 Research Data Project Case 043.

8 Research Data Project Cases 158, 162, and 163.

9 Research Data Project Cases 049, 058, 093, 100, and 105.

10 These recommendations were approved by the Project Board at a meeting in Washington, D.C. on February 27, 1976 and by the APSA Council on September 1, 1976 with the provision by the Council that the Committee on Professional Ethics and Academic Freedom take account of the objections to the language raised by the Council in recommendation one and report back to the Council with proposals on changing the language in this recommendation.

11 A version of this statement has been adopted by the APSA. See Committee on Professional Ethics and Academic Freedom, Annual Report, PS: Political Science & Politics (Summer 1973), pp. 340341 Google Scholar and “Advisory Opinion No. 13: “The Scholar's Ethical Obligation to Protect Confidential Sources,” PS (Fall 1973), p. 451.