Research with a Hidden Agenda

A researcher wants to study people’s perception of their own competence regarding so-called “high culture,” such as opera, architecture, and poetry. The theory suggests that there are large gaps between actual and self-reported competence. This is often explained as “IoI,” Ignorance of Ignorance, meaning that a person is unable to recognize their own limitations in all areas of life.

High culture is a suitable field for uncovering this phenomenon, both because the topic includes facts that can be verified, and because a lack of such factual knowledge is relatively common. The project involves conducting semi-structured, in-depth interviews of 1–2 hours with 25 participants, and then analyzing the material to reveal which strategies individuals with pronounced IoI employ.

Questions for discussion

1. Given that the method aims to uncover IoI and strategies that the participants themselves should not be aware of, how can the researcher obtain informed consent from the participants? Is there a way to do this without undermining the results? If not, could it be acceptable to carry out the project with only limited information provided beforehand?
2. The researcher assumes that good research practice involves sharing the results with participants afterward. How can this best be done without hurting the participants or damaging their self-image? Could it be right to conduct the project even if no such way exists?
3. What kind of competence should a researcher have in order to carry out a project of this kind in an ethically responsible manner? Could this study be conducted as part of a PhD degree?

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• Qualitative methods