How Do Our Values Inform Ethical Research? A Narrative of Recognizing Colonizing Practices

Area of Science:

• Community Psychology
• Indigenous Research Ethics
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Ethical research practice often involves navigating complex tensions between personal values, disciplinary norms, and community expectations.
• Engaging with rural Indigenous communities presents unique ethical considerations that require careful attention and reflexive practice.
• Previous research has highlighted the importance of ethical frameworks in community-based participatory research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine an ethical challenge encountered during PhD fieldwork involving rural Indigenous community members.
• To illustrate the necessity of critical reflexive research practice in addressing ethical dilemmas.
• To explore the reconciliation of personal, disciplinary, and community values in research.

Main Methods:

• A narrative approach is used, drawing on the first author's experiences during PhD fieldwork.
• The study employs critical reflection to analyze the ethical challenges encountered.
• It distinguishes between procedural ethics and virtue ethics in the context of community-based research.

Main Results:

• The narrative highlights the importance of acknowledging and responding to personal feelings of 'right' and 'wrong' in research.
• It reveals the potential for conflict between community psychology values and community engagement practices.
• The study underscores the need to critically examine and decolonize research practices.

Conclusions:

• Critical reflexive practice is essential for ethical engagement with Indigenous communities.
• Reconciling diverse ethical values requires ongoing dialogue and a commitment to respectful collaboration.
• The student-supervisor relationship evolved into a collegial partnership, demonstrating the potential for growth through ethical challenges.