Defending Rights or Defending Privileges? Rethinking the ethics of research in public service organizations

Conducting research in public services organizations raises important but often neglected questions about the status of managers and staff as research subjects. An approach that prioritizes the protections and entitlements due to research subjects may thwart the public interest. An approach that grants laissez faire to researchers may threaten the legitimate rights and interests of managers and staff. Ethics review systems are currently poorly equipped to engage in useful debates about the drawing of appropriate boundaries for inquiry. We urge a recasting of the role of ethics review from research subject's sole protector to honest broker.