“‘什么是’研究方法系列”是一套普及性学术丛书，深入浅出地介绍社会科学中的常用研究方法和问题。丛书主题涉及社交网络分析、在线研究、话语分析、日记法、质性研究、质性访谈、质性研究伦理、定量纵向数据分析等领域。每一分册均以“什么是……”命名，围绕一个主题，梳理该领域发展概况，阐释关键术语，介绍前沿成果或通过案例分析展示该研究方法的实际应用情况，并通过推荐书目或参考书目为读者延伸阅读提供指导。各分册作者均为相关领域的资深研究者，思路清晰，言简意赅。
本书介绍了社会科学领域质性研究中可能碰到的各类伦理困境以及相应的处理原则和指导性框架，专门讨论了图像调研、在线调研等质性研究新方法中伦理问题的应对方式，并为读者推荐了有关的重要文献资源。

Series foreword
Introduction
1 Key terms
Moral judgements/morality
Ethics
Ethical frameworks
Consequentialist approaches
Principlist approaches
Ethics of care
Virtue ethics
Ethical regulation
Ethical guidelines
Informed consent
Capacity
Duty of confidentiality
Anonymity
Risk
2 Thinking ethically: approaches to research ethics
Introduction
The development of contemporary research ethics
Ethical decision-making
Ethical frameworks
Legal, regulatory and professional frameworks
Professional ethical guidelines
Ethical regulation
Legal regulation
Making ethical decisions
Summary
3 Informed consent
Introduction
Providing information
Encouraging participation: incentives,
encouragement and acknowledgement
Recording consent
Consent in online research
Capacity to consent
Summary
4 Anonymity and confidentiality
Introduction
Confidentiality
Breaking confidentiality
Accidental disclosures
'Off the record' comments
Anonymisation
Identification
Visual data and anonymisation
Summary
5 Risk and safety
Introduction
Risks for research participants
Assessing risk of harm
Types of risk
Minimising risks of harm
Risks to researchers
Physical risks
Emotional risks
Other risks
Summary
6 Ethical dilemmas
Introduction
Ethical 'horror stories'
Case studies
Making ethical decisions
Summary
7 Where next for research ethics?
Introduction
Developments in research methods
Narrative methods
Visual and creative methods
Participatory methods
Digital and e-research
Data sharing
Where next for research ethics?
Summary
Further reading and resources
General guidance on research ethics
Risks and safety
Consent
Ethical issue in relation to specific methods
Professional guidelines and codes
References
Index

“‘什么是’研究方法系列”以问答的形式，介绍了语言学的一些基本概念以及研究对象、方法、内容等。旨在为初学者介绍该领域的各项基本知识和基本概念，为深入研究这一学科打下基础。
本书注意理论联系实践，讲解伦理问题时常辅以真实案例分析，是一本对社会科学研究者有明显指导作用的方法论专著。