Communities, collectivities, and the ethics of research

Ethical concerns have always placed limits on research, but the spirit of the times has led to an expansion of the territory covered by ethics. This new approach is found in the code of ethics presently in final revision by the three major granting agencies. This code will give unprecedented power to "collectivities" in the research process. Some see this as a long overdue corrective to hit-and-run research, while others see it as a threat to unfettered inquiry. This paper argues a different point: Involvement of collectivities is essential for ethical research relationships, but it ought not to limit the sorts of questions we study or publication of the answers we find. The difference will be illustrated by two examples in which aboriginal communities asserted their collective rights against researchers. The difference between the examples will lead to an examination of the debate between those who believe community work is "all politics," and those who try to underpin it with ethical principles. Finally, I argue that ethical practice requires a knowledge base created by valid research. We should support an improved relationship with host communities, but not let the political agendas of contending community groups constrain the questions we can ask about social problems or our assessment of measures designed to solve them.