What ethical principle(s) do you think was (were) violated in this research?

To study a radical “right-to-life” group, Professor Jenkins decides to join the group without telling the members that he is secretly studying it. After each meeting, he returns home and takes field notes about the members and their discussion. After several months of attending meetings, he is invited to become a member of the group’s board of directors and he accepts. One evening at the group’s general membership meeting, one member of the board becomes enraged during the discussion about abortion information and procedures available at a local women’s health clinic. He shouts that the clinic staff deserves to die. Later that week, someone fires a gun through several windows of the clinic. Although no one is killed, several clinic staff and one patient are injured. The police find out that Professor Jenkins has been studying the local group and subpoena his field notes. Professor Jenkins complies with the subpoena, and the board member is arrested.

1. What ethical principle(s) do you think was (were) violated in this research?

2. Describe the probable reason(s) Professor Jenkins violated the principles you noted in your answer to Question 1.

3. Describe your reactions to the way this study was done and the researcher’s response to the subpoena.