A Code of Practice for the Safety of Social Researchers

This is the SRA's Code of Practice for the safety of social researchers, particularly those conducting research in the field on their own. The code focuses on safety in interviewing or observation in private settings but is of relevance to working in unfamiliar environments in general. A copy of the code can be downloaded here (.doc 63K). There are a number of dimensions to the risk that social researchers may face when involved in close social interaction: risk of physical threat or abuse risk of psychological trauma, as a result of actual or threatened violence or the nature of what is disclosed during the interaction risk of being in a comprising situation, in which there might be accusations of improper behaviour increased exposure to risks of everyday life and social interaction, such as road accidents and infectious illness risk of causing psychological or physical harm to others. The code is designed for research funders, employers, research managers and researchers carrying out fieldwork. The aims are to point out safety issues which need to be considered in the design and conduct of social research in the field and to encourage procedures to reduce the risk. The intention is not to be alarmist about potential dangers but to minimise anxieties or insecurities which might affect the quality of the research.