6.7 Surreptitious recording

At times it may be tempting to record people without their knowing in order to get around the observer's paradox. And in some countries and states it may even be legal to record surreptitiously as long as at least one party is aware that it is being recorded. But many researchers deem covered recording unethical regardless of whether or not it is declared legal in the respective state. Surreptitious recording can jeopardize the relationship between fieldworker and community, as people may regard it as a breach of trust and consequently refuse any form of further contribution to the research. During participant observation the line between open and covered recording can often blur. For example, when conducting an interview in someone's home the interviewer has no way of controlling who's voice may appear on the recording as there is always a chance that someone – a family member, for instance - might unexpectedly “pop in” and say something without being aware of the recording device. The best way to avoid potential inconveniences of any kind is to ask for consent from everyone who - intentionally or unintentionally - may qualify as a potential informant, not to hide the recorder, and to delete anything that may be of sensitive nature. After the interview, the fieldworker is advised to present the participants with his/her recordings, so that they can give their opinion on what material they believe to be inappropriate for further processing. This will portray the researcher as a trustworthy and helpful person (cf. Milroy and Gordon 2001: 81-83; Bowern 2008: 150-151).

Waiting to ask for a written consent until after the recording may alleviate the ethical dilemma, but some fieldworkers hold that informed consent only qualifies as such when it is given in advance. Usually the quality of surreptitious recordings leaves a lot to be desired, so the gathered data may only be of limited use. The general guideline given by Labov (1984: 52) is to “avoid any act that would be embarrassing to explain if it became a public issue” (cf. Milroy and Gordon 2001: 83).

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