AAA Code of Ethics

Definition

The AAA Code of Ethics is a set of guidelines established by the American Anthropological Association that outlines the ethical principles and standards for conducting research in anthropology. It emphasizes the importance of respect for the dignity and welfare of individuals and communities, ensuring that researchers engage in practices that are responsible, fair, and transparent. This code serves as a foundational framework for ethical conduct in ethnographic research, guiding anthropologists in their interactions with study participants and their communities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The AAA Code of Ethics was first adopted in 1971 and has undergone several revisions to address emerging ethical issues in anthropology.
2. It emphasizes the importance of avoiding harm to research participants, which includes physical, emotional, and social risks.
3. Researchers are encouraged to be transparent about their research goals and methods, ensuring participants are aware of how their information will be used.
4. The code stresses the necessity of sharing the benefits of research with the communities involved, promoting reciprocity between researchers and participants.
5. Violating the AAA Code of Ethics can lead to disciplinary actions from professional organizations, impacting a researcher’s credibility and career.

Review Questions

• How does the AAA Code of Ethics influence the relationship between anthropologists and their research participants?
  • The AAA Code of Ethics significantly shapes the relationship between anthropologists and their research participants by establishing clear guidelines that prioritize respect and responsibility. It emphasizes informed consent, ensuring that participants understand what involvement entails and can choose freely to participate. This ethical framework promotes trust, enabling more open interactions and fostering better data collection while safeguarding participants' rights.
• In what ways does the AAA Code of Ethics address the issue of harm in ethnographic research?
  • The AAA Code of Ethics directly addresses the issue of harm by mandating that researchers actively avoid causing physical, emotional, or social risks to their participants. This includes assessing potential risks before conducting research and implementing measures to mitigate them. The code also encourages anthropologists to consider the broader impacts of their research on communities, promoting practices that benefit rather than harm those involved.
• Evaluate the implications of violating the AAA Code of Ethics for an anthropologist’s career and the broader field of anthropology.
  • Violating the AAA Code of Ethics can have serious implications for an anthropologist's career, including loss of credibility, professional sanctions from associations like the AAA, and potential legal repercussions. Such violations can undermine public trust in anthropological research as a whole, damaging relationships between researchers and communities. Additionally, they can lead to increased scrutiny of ethical practices within the field, prompting a broader conversation about the importance of ethical conduct in preserving cultural integrity and fostering responsible scholarship.

Related terms

Informed Consent: The process through which researchers ensure that participants understand the nature of the research and voluntarily agree to participate, emphasizing their autonomy.

Confidentiality: The ethical obligation of researchers to protect the privacy of their participants by not disclosing identifiable information without consent.

Cultural Relativism: The principle that an individual's beliefs and activities should be understood based on that person's own culture, rather than be judged against the criteria of another culture.