Ethics in fieldwork: reflections on the unexpected

Article


Palmer, Jane, Fam, Dena, Smith, Tanzi and Kilham, Sarina. 2014. "Ethics in fieldwork: reflections on the unexpected." Qualitative Report: an online journal dedicated to qualitative research since 1990. 19 (28), pp. 1-13.
Article Title

Ethics in fieldwork: reflections on the unexpected

ERA Journal ID35716
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsPalmer, Jane (Author), Fam, Dena (Author), Smith, Tanzi (Author) and Kilham, Sarina (Author)
Journal TitleQualitative Report: an online journal dedicated to qualitative research since 1990
Journal Citation19 (28), pp. 1-13
Number of Pages13
Year2014
Place of PublicationUnited States
ISSN1052-0147
Web Address (URL)http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR19/palmer14.pdf
Abstract

Research involving fieldwork can present the researcher with ethical dilemmas not anticipated in institutional ethics approval processes. Ethical dilemmas can present both profound personal and methodological challenges. Decisions made in response to these dilemmas have the potential to affect both the validity of data collected and its analysis at later stages of the research project. They may also generate feelings such as discomfort, uncertainty and guilt for the researcher. The authors’ experiences of conducting qualitative fieldwork in four distinctly different contexts 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. Through joint reflection on the researchers’ experiences and decisions, the four case studies in this paper provide a basis for examining anticipatory rather than reactive ways of dealing with ethical dilemmas. In acknowledging that one needs to expect the unexpected during field work, preparation and critical reflection were 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. This paper concludes with some suggestions for field researchers regarding ethical and fieldwork design issues to consider in addition to the concerns addressed in a standard university ethics approval process.

Keywordsfieldwork, qualitative research, research ethics, university ethics guidelines, fieldwork design
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020500199. Applied ethics not elsewhere classified
390303. Higher education
390401. Comparative and cross-cultural education
500101. Bioethics
Public Notes

File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.

Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Technology Sydney
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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