Laud Humphreys wrote his dissertation on anonymous homosexual encounters in the men's rooms of public parks.To gather data,he acted as a lookout for his subjects,but he also surreptitiously noted license-plate numbers as the men left so he could get their names and addresses.The next year,he picked about fifty of the men and,claiming to be performing a health survey,interviewed them in their homes.His descriptions of the interviews made it possible for many of the men (and their families)to recognize themselves when the dissertation was published.Why do many sociologists consider this research method to be unethical?

Question

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Many sociologists consider Humphreys' research unethical because it failed to protect the biographical anonymity of his subjects. By gathering their names and addresses without their consent and then publishing descriptions of the interviews, he exposed them to potential harm and violated their privacy. This raises ethical concerns about informed consent and the potential harm that can come from not protecting the anonymity of research subjects.

Laud Humphreys Wrote His Dissertation on Anonymous Homosexual Encounters in the Men's