‘Is it worth doing this or is it better to commit suicide?’ : On ethical clearance at a university
(2024) In Human Relations- Abstract
The article examines the formal process of ‘ethical clearance’ for social science research at a large university and illuminates how it functions to undermine its stated purpose. We find that rather than promoting ethical standards, the bureaucratic process creates negative and cynical attitudes and game playing. For almost all participants, the entire procedure is counterproductive and experienced as absurd, creating a boomerang effect. The findings reveal how a specific rationalization effort leads to widespread experiences of irrationality, where detailed and strict organization merges with experiences of the bizarre. The article develops concepts capturing the experience and resulting organizational type: ‘orbizzarization’ and... (More)
The article examines the formal process of ‘ethical clearance’ for social science research at a large university and illuminates how it functions to undermine its stated purpose. We find that rather than promoting ethical standards, the bureaucratic process creates negative and cynical attitudes and game playing. For almost all participants, the entire procedure is counterproductive and experienced as absurd, creating a boomerang effect. The findings reveal how a specific rationalization effort leads to widespread experiences of irrationality, where detailed and strict organization merges with experiences of the bizarre. The article develops concepts capturing the experience and resulting organizational type: ‘orbizzarization’ and ‘absurdocracy’. These concepts enrich our understanding of toxic/irrational organizations, including Kafkaesque organizations.
(Less)
- author
- Alvesson, Mats LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- keywords
- absurd, bureaucracy, ethical regulation, Kafkaesque, research ethics
- in
- Human Relations
- publisher
- SAGE Publications
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85193047517
- ISSN
- 0018-7267
- DOI
- 10.1177/00187267241248530
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- ae070bc8-112d-4e69-8c77-8f016f2f5fbb
- date added to LUP
- 2024-05-27 08:35:48
- date last changed
- 2024-05-27 08:35:52
@article{ae070bc8-112d-4e69-8c77-8f016f2f5fbb,
abstract = {{<p>The article examines the formal process of ‘ethical clearance’ for social science research at a large university and illuminates how it functions to undermine its stated purpose. We find that rather than promoting ethical standards, the bureaucratic process creates negative and cynical attitudes and game playing. For almost all participants, the entire procedure is counterproductive and experienced as absurd, creating a boomerang effect. The findings reveal how a specific rationalization effort leads to widespread experiences of irrationality, where detailed and strict organization merges with experiences of the bizarre. The article develops concepts capturing the experience and resulting organizational type: ‘orbizzarization’ and ‘absurdocracy’. These concepts enrich our understanding of toxic/irrational organizations, including Kafkaesque organizations.</p>}},
author = {{Alvesson, Mats}},
issn = {{0018-7267}},
keywords = {{absurd; bureaucracy; ethical regulation; Kafkaesque; research ethics}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{SAGE Publications}},
series = {{Human Relations}},
title = {{‘Is it worth doing this or is it better to commit suicide?’ : On ethical clearance at a university}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00187267241248530}},
doi = {{10.1177/00187267241248530}},
year = {{2024}},
}