Dialogue matters. Exploring Deaf people's research experiences in Poland

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Medical Ethics
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Deaf individuals face systematic underrepresentation in research ethics discussions.
• Ethical engagement with Deaf communities in research presents unique challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences and opinions of Polish Deaf people regarding their involvement in research.
• To identify challenges, needs, and aspirations of Deaf individuals in research contexts.
• To inform recommendations for equitable scientific collaboration.

Main Methods:

• A bilingual, open-ended online survey was administered to Polish Deaf participants.
• Fifty-two responses were collected and analyzed collaboratively with a Deaf advisory group.
• An experiential approach to reflexive thematic analysis was employed.

Main Results:

• Six key themes emerged, unified under the overarching theme: Dialogue matters.
• Findings highlight social and epistemic inequalities faced by Deaf people in research.
• The need for increased accessibility and trust in research processes was identified.

Conclusions:

• The Polish context reflects global challenges but also has unique aspects regarding Deaf participation in research.
• Evidence-based recommendations can foster better scientific cooperation between Deaf and hearing researchers.
• Prioritizing dialogue and addressing inequalities are crucial for ethical and inclusive research practices.