In my view, researchers have no right to keep their identity concealed from their subjects. That is because for any research to be conducted, there has to be an informed consent between the researcher and the subject that covers the various procedures to be followed in the research process. Besides, searchers have to inform their subjects about the nature of the research, as well as obtain the subjects' consent before their (subjects) involvement in the study. In other words, the subjects cannot participate in research without knowing the identity of the researcher, and the consent has to be in the form of a consent letter signed by both the researcher and the subjects (Jacobsen, 2011).
I also think it is ethical to watch people in a public setting, such as a park, and take notes on their behavior. That is because public settings are meant for everyone watching people in such places, and probably taking notes on their behavior does not translate to probing or invading their privacy. Besides, people in public settings do not expect privacy, and any form of behavior in such settings can be observed by everyone since a public place is open to everybody (Jacobsen, 2011).
On the other hand, I think it would be wrong to join a gang and do the same thing. That is because the assumptions and conditions under which researchers are allowed to carry out research activities without the subjects’ consent are those that have no potential of causing harm. Joining a gang and taking note of their behavior would be highly risky because the gang would not expect their private, criminal activities to be shared with the public (Jacobsen, 2011).
References
Jacobsen, K. (2011). Research Ethics: Principles, Practices, and Reporting. World Medical " Health Policy, 3(2), 40-46. http://dx.doi.org/10.2202/1948-4682.1161
