Ethical considerations and dilemmas for the researcher and for families in home-based research: A case for situated ethics

Article

Brown, Alice and Palaiologou, Ioanna. 2023. "Ethical considerations and dilemmas for the researcher and for families in home-based research: A case for situated ethics." Research Ethics. 19 (4), p. 519–535. https://doi.org/10.1177/17470161231181860
Article Title

Ethical considerations and dilemmas for the researcher and for families in home-based research: A case for situated ethics

ERA Journal ID34970
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsBrown, Alice and Palaiologou, Ioanna
Journal TitleResearch Ethics
Journal Citation19 (4), p. 519–535
Number of Pages17
Year2023
PublisherSAGE Publications Ltd
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN1747-0161
2047-6094
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1177/17470161231181860
Web Address (URL)https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17470161231181860
Abstract

When researching with or about families in home-based research, there are numerous unexpected ethical issues that can emerge, particularly in qualitative research. This paper is based on reflective accounts of four homed-based research projects, two in the UK and two Australia, which examined ethical dilemmas identified when engaged in home-based research with young children. Using a synergy of ecocultural theory and Foucauldian ideas of Heterotopia as theoretical conceptualisations, the authors employed reflective lenses to guide their approach, and examine dilemmas and complexities when conducting research in the home. We argue that, to address ethical dilemmas, researchers need to problematise and reflect upon the nature of respectful approaches and the ethical implications of their behaviours. We conclude that, although ethical codes are valuable when researching families at home, researchers should plan for and forefront their methodological approaches in ways that are family-centred, whilst also framed by practices that are ethical, respectful and reflective to the situated contexts of family’s ecologies and heterotopias.

KeywordsEthics; research with/about families; ecocultural theory; heterotopia; physical emotional and social spaces; identities
Contains Sensitive ContentDoes not contain sensitive content
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390399. Education systems not elsewhere classified
Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Bristol, United Kingdom
University of Southern Queensland
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