I denne artikel introduceres det forskningsetiske begreb mesoetik, der omhandler hensynet til de involverede organisationer og fag- og professionsgruppers omdømme, interesser og fremtidige virke. Begrebet er centralt ift. sociologisk og socialvidenskabelig forskning, da denne ofte fokuserer på organisationer og professioners virke. Det argumenteres, at inddragelse af et mesoetisk perspektiv kan bidrage til en mere detaljeret forståelse af de etiske hensyns kompleksitet ift. de berørte organisationer og professioner. Mesoetik supplerer de forskningsetiske begreber mikroetik (hensynet til de involverede enkeltpersoner) og makroetik (opmærksomheden omkring forskningens samfundsmæssige konsekvenser). Artiklen tager afsæt i det centrale og fortsat udbredte forskningsetiske princip »hensynet til de berørte parter«, samt idealet om uvildig og kritisk forskning. Begrebet og fænomenet mesoetik udfoldes gennem en kvalitativ analyse af socialvidenskabelige forskerstuderendes forskningsetiske praksis. Artiklen bidrager med ny viden ved at definere og analysere mesoetik i kvalitativ forskning, samt give indblik i socialvidenskabelige forskerstuderendes forskningsetiske praksis.

Abstract:In this study the common political discourse on the 'challenge of immigration' to the Danish welfare state is turned on its head. Instead of focusing on the costs and difficulties of immigration, the focus is first upon the challenge that recent policies on immigration and integration constitute to the principle of universalism; and second upon the ability of the principle to encompass ethnic diversity. It is argued that a revision of the implicit normativity of the Danish welfare state is necessary in order to secure equality for all groups of society and positive selective measures based on recognition and status equality are proposed as a possible theoretical tool to further this.

PurposeWorking with organizations is central to organizational ethnography. However, while research ethics relating to individual participants is widely discussed, research ethics relating to the organizations has been neglected. The purpose of this article is to address this shortcoming and introduce the concept and domain of “meso-ethics” in research ethics. Meso-ethics pertains to organizations as research participants and thus allows for the explicit inclusion of organizations in ethical considerations and practice. Meso-ethics complements the known domains of micro-ethics and macro-ethics in research ethics.Design/methodology/approachThe concept of meso-ethics takes point of departure in the micro-ethical principles of “respect, and avoiding harm” and adjusts these to apply to organizations. The organizations are first defined as a distinct type of research participants, which differs from individual participants. The organizations are formally organized units that possess resources to assert power and stakeholders with a vested interest in the research. Second, the relationship between researchers and organizations is related to issues of power, allowing for a view of the power relations as flexible and relational. Moreover, this includes a potential vulnerability to harm on both sides.FindingsThe new concept and domain meso-ethics allows for explicit reflections and practice of research ethics in relations to organizations, a central participant in organizational ethnography. There is a discussion that meso-ethics should be combined with micro-ethics and macro-ethics in future practice to allow for comprehensive reflections and practice of research ethics.Originality/valueThe article contributes a new concept and domain of research ethics, meso-ethics, in organizational ethnography and related research to explore and practice research ethics in relation to organizations participating in our research. Meso-ethics complements the known domains of micro-ethics and macro-ethics in research ethics.

I denne artikel analyseres, hvordan innovationer håndteres og forankres i velfærdsorganisationer gennem to cases fra aktiveringsområdet. Artiklens fokus er todelt. I første del rettes opmærksomheden mod forståelser af begreberne entreprenørskab og innovation, og begrebet velfærdsinnovation defineres. I anden del analyseres et enkelt, men vigtigt aspekt af velfærdsinnovation, innovationernes organisatoriske forankring. Analysen er baseret på kvalitative casestudier i to organisationer inden for aktiveringsområdet: en kommunal og en privat organisation.

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