Some thinking on Ethics ahead of our session on Thursday March 3rd, looking in detail at the Ethics Applciation process within Module Two (MORE)
Ethics are central to our lives and practice, not something only addressed through research (just that ethics become neccesarily visible then perhaps).
Ethical considerations, address how we are mindful of our actions, words, practice and the potential impact is has on those around us, and how these considerations cannot avoid the social, cultural and historical contexts from which they emerge.
Ethical procedures, address the ways in which we may go about informing and 'safe-guarding' others of our practice-research. The MORE application process we use in Module Two is just this, the ethical procedures that the university requires you to undertake in order to approve your proposal for a research inquiry.
Within the framework of designing your research project in module two you are asked to attend to the Ethcial Procedures of your proposed research project by completing the MORE application online (dates as indicated on your schedule - note that this has an earlier deadline than the submission of the rest of your work for module two this term).
You are asked to discuss the Ethical considerations of your proposed research project within the body of your written research proposal.
You can use the MORE application - the questions asked, your responses to them, to help you to frame the research proposal as a whole. The questions asked around the Aims of your research, what methodologies you will use, what data collections methods, who your participants will be, are all to be addressed in your proposal.
Consider these ideas in relation to the research you are proposing:
What hierarchies exist,
what stereotypes,
exclusions,
expectations,
what do you think about these as you design a research project proposal (Ethical Considerations)
and
what actions do you take to recognise your own privilege and minimise potentially negative impacts on others as a result of your research (Ethical Procedures).
The thinking leads to the actions you take.
The ethical considerations of your research (discussed in your research proposal) lead to the choices you make about the ethical procedures you will engage with (outlined in your MORE application).
Hello Helen,
ReplyDeleteThe ethical procedures and considerations seems like a key section of this module. In terms of procedures, it appears that anonymity will play a big part in protecting the participants in my project. As the topic I hope to address is quite a personal topic, it will be important to make them comfortable enough to share details with full confidence their thoughts and experiences will be kept anonymous. One part of this will be to give participants pseudonyms and also omitting any details that could lead to their identification.
In terms of ethical considerations, I need to spend some more time thinking on this. It will be important that I do not project my thoughts and beliefs onto my participants. This will be important when considering what questions I may wish to ask at interviews. I would love to hear what ethical considerations others have to help me delve deeper into my own.