Ethics in fieldwork: Reflections on the unexpected

Palmer, J; Fam, D; Smith, T; Kilham, S

Ethics in fieldwork: Reflections on the unexpected

Palmer, J

Fam, D

Smith, T Kilham, S

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Qualitative Report, 2014, 19 (28), pp. 1 - 13
Issue Date:: 2014-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Palmer, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4131-4482	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fam, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5549-5034	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Smith, T	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kilham, S https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5234-2764	en_US
dc.date.issued	2014-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Qualitative Report, 2014, 19 (28), pp. 1 - 13	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1052-0147	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/117918
dc.description.abstract	© 2014: Jane Palmer, Dena Fam, Tanzi Smith, Sarina Kilham, and Nova Southeastern University. Research involving fieldwork can present the researcher with ethical dilemmas not anticipated in institutional ethics approval processes, and which offer profound personal and methodological challenges. The authors' experiences of conducting qualitative fieldwork in four distinctly different contexts are used to illustrate some of these unexpected consequences and ethical dilemmas. Issues encountered included: compromised relationships with informants which develop in unforeseen ways; engagement with traumatized informants which lead to unexpected roles for the researcher such as confidante, dealing with new information that is critical to informants' futures but could undermine the research project, and the implications of ethical decisions for research design and analysis. In our shared reflection on the four case studies in this paper, we examine anticipatory rather than reactive ways of dealing with such ethical dilemmas. Preparation and critical reflection are found to be key tools in relating to field informants, dealing with the personal challenges of undertaking field work, and developing useful research outcomes after returning home. We conclude by suggesting some issues for field researchers to consider in addition to the concerns addressed in a standard university ethics approval process.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Qualitative Report	en_US
dc.title	Ethics in fieldwork: Reflections on the unexpected	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	28	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	19	en_US
utslib.for	1399 Other Education	en_US
utslib.for	1303 Specialist Studies in Education	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Teaching and Learning)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ISF - Institute for Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	28	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	19	en_US

Abstract:

© 2014: Jane Palmer, Dena Fam, Tanzi Smith, Sarina Kilham, and Nova Southeastern University. Research involving fieldwork can present the researcher with ethical dilemmas not anticipated in institutional ethics approval processes, and which offer profound personal and methodological challenges. The authors' experiences of conducting qualitative fieldwork in four distinctly different contexts are used to illustrate some of these unexpected consequences and ethical dilemmas. Issues encountered included: compromised relationships with informants which develop in unforeseen ways; engagement with traumatized informants which lead to unexpected roles for the researcher such as confidante, dealing with new information that is critical to informants' futures but could undermine the research project, and the implications of ethical decisions for research design and analysis. In our shared reflection on the four case studies in this paper, we examine anticipatory rather than reactive ways of dealing with such ethical dilemmas. Preparation and critical reflection are found to be key tools in relating to field informants, dealing with the personal challenges of undertaking field work, and developing useful research outcomes after returning home. We conclude by suggesting some issues for field researchers to consider in addition to the concerns addressed in a standard university ethics approval process.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/117918