Manchester University launches inquiry into ethical standards after paper details masturbation sessions. A leading university has launched an inquiry after it emerged that one of its PhD students has written a research paper about sexual attraction to young boys. Karl Andersson spent three months recording his thoughts and feelings while masturbating over images of young boys in Japanese comic books. His 4,word study, which details his sexual habits and sexual encounters between boys in the comics, was published in the journal Qualitative Research in April.
It provoked outrage from academics, an MP and others after it was circulated on Twitter this week. The University of Manchester and Qualitative Research have announced they are investigating the circumstances of the research and its publication.
He describes how he gave up all other sexual activity, from sex with other people to other types of pornography. All research, and research publication, should be subject to proportionate but rigorous ethical review, including robust safeguarding checks. We are currently undertaking a detailed investigation into all aspects of their work, the processes around it and other questions raised.
It is very important that we look at the issues in-depth. Photograph: University of Manchester. This article is more than 2 years old. Reuse this content. Most viewed.
