Watch the Sexuality Questionnaire video

1. What ethical questions are raised about social research in this video?

The two (2) ethical questions about social research in the video which I think are the most obvious are: (1) the pushing of ideas to little minds of students who take the survey, as the guy Tucker pointed out in the video, which he stated is a breach of one’s right and privacy to personal thoughts and beliefs. This is, as he stated, imposing one’s propaganda that supports gay rights to children who might be too young to make up their own decisions about such a sensitive topic; and (2) the ethical fact that the said survey question that raised the ire of parents is there because it is supposed to be there, based on, expectedly, the experts who made these questionnaires.  As Rachel Maddow pointed out, the said question and other similar ones in the questionnaire that point to similar topic is an empathy exercise, as gay rights is a very important social issue, especially in the modern times. Gay people have suffered many things in the past. Even by present standards, there is still an existing discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community. Maddow pointed out that students as young as those who took the survey were being given an overview of the argument about gay rights, and help them understand for themselves what their own opinions about it are, or if they are indeed having social and psychological understanding of their own sexual preference, such must not be a hindrance of receiving equal rights as heterosexual individuals. However, despite the importance of Rachel Maddow’s position, the parents themselves must be in support and provided with clear understanding of the survey questions and their importance.

2. In the video, students were given a questionnaire on sexuality. Questionnaires on what other topics would raise similar ethical questions (give at least one other topic)? Explain your answer.

Social questionnaires on child sex abuse can also touch the subject of homosexuality and gay rights. As these also tackle not only gender but the sexual identity of the test subjects/children, in relation to abuse reasons and their aftermath/effects to behaviour, this topic will be definitely be included in the said questionnaire. Again, in such questionnaires, the parental consent still is one of the most crucial elements. There might be questions that parents may found imposing, or unsuitable be read/analyzed by students of younger age, hence the importance that before providing questionnaires with very sensitive issues as those which have been specified in this paper, experts or those who made the questionnaire must meet and discuss formally with parents the goals of the questionnaire and their importance.