Fieldwork, Participation and Practice: Ethics and Dilemmas in Qualitative Research

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A timely and topical look at the role of ethics in fieldwork taking into account some of the major issues confronting qualitative researchers.The main purposes of this book are twofold, to promote an understanding of the harmful possibilities of fieldwork, and provide ways of dealing with ethical problems and dilemmas. To these ends, examples of actual fieldwork are provided that address ethical problems and dilemmas, and posit ways of dealing with them.This book covers traditional and contemporary approaches to fieldwork, including the role of self//identity, participation, feminist methods, ethical and moral issues. The examples discussed include fieldworkers' experiences with sensitive topics, sensitive situations, dramatic scenarios and events, and difficult circumstances for which there seem no satisfactory resolutions. The author tackles the central issues that the role of the fieldworker has to confront.Fieldworkers are often attempting to balance observation with participation, and others struggle with the interests and responsibilities of various audiences (sponsors, gatekeepers, academics, participants); and with the self. She further addresses the problems researchers face around the boundaries between private and public place, conventional and sensitive topics, overt and covert methods, fieldnotes and texts.These dilemmas are placed in the context where decisions have to be made that draw on values, principles, codes of ethics, professional standards and feelings. The main emphasis of the book is on ethical problems and dilemmas that move the researcher to centre stage, although the risk of threat from research for participants is given due recognition.