Ethics in qualitative social research on marginalized groups

Karin Barron

doi:10.1080/15017419909510736

Original Articles

Ethics in qualitative social research on marginalized groups

Author:

Karin Barron

About Karin

Karin Barron, PhD in sociology, is assosiated professor at the University og Ga'vle, Sweden.

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Abstract

This paper discusses some ethical issues in qualitative research on marginalized groups, such as intellectually disabled women. These kinds of issues have been brought to the fore through contacts with intellectually disabled women in a recently conducted study. Intellectually disabled women have a particularly low status on account of their intellectual impairment as well as their gender. The principle aim of the paper is to emphasize the need for a continual discussion within the academic community as to the conduct of those engaging in qualitative research on marginalized groups. A self‐appointed alliance with such groups risks masking the superior position of the researcher. This has two serious consequences, i.e. it involves running the risk of poor interpretations of the data, as well as of “objectifying” the informants.

How to Cite: Barron, K., 1999. Ethics in qualitative social research on marginalized groups. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 1(1), pp.38–49. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/15017419909510736

Published on 01 Jul 1999

Peer Reviewed

CC BY 4.0

References

Barnes , C. (1992). . Qualitative research: valuable or irrelevant?. . Disability, Handicap & Society , 7((2)): : 115.–.
Barnes , C. (1996). . Disability and the Myth of the Independent Researcher. . Disability & Society , 11((1)): : 107.–.
Eliasson , R. (1987). . Forskningsetik och Perspektivval. , [city: Lund]: : Studentlitteratur. .
Goode , E. (1996). . The Ethics of Deception in Social Research: A Case Study. . Qualitative Sociology , 19((1)): : 11.–.
Hertz , R. (1996). . Introduction: Ethics, Reflexivity and Voice. . Qualitative Sociology , 19((1)): : 3.–.
Håkanson , K. (1988). . Den skapande tomhetens bild. Om kunskap och kärlek. , [city: Stockholm]: : Prisma. .
Kimmel , A.J. (1988). . “Ethics and values in applied social research. ”. In Applied Social Research Methods Series. , Volume 12, Sage Publications. .
Lien , I.L. (1991). . En god forsker eller en godt menneske. . Nytt Norsk Tidsskrift , 2
Löchen , Y. (1972). . Sociologens dilemma. Vetenskaplig distans eller samhällsförändring. , Wahlström & Widstrand. .
Löchen , Y. (1996). . "De funksjonshemmete”. , [city: Oslo]: : Rådet för funksjonshemmede. .
Marshall , C. and Rossman , G.B. (1989). . “Designing qualitative research. ”. Sage Publications. .
Moore , S. (1991). . Investigating Deviance. Sociology in action. , Collins Educational. .
Morris , J. (1991). . Pride against Prejudice: transforming attitudes to disability. , [city: London]: : The Women's Press. .
Munford , R. (1995). . A position of marginalization or inclusion? The experiences of women with disabilties. . New Zealand Journal of Disability Studies , 1: : 29.–. Massey University.
Naples , N.A. (1996). . A Feminist Revisiting of the Insider/Outsider Debate: The “Outsider Phenomenon” in Rural Iowa. . Qualitative Sociology , 19((1)): : 83.–.
Näsman , E. and Eriksson , B‐E (1994). . . “Inledning. Art närma sig samhällslivet. ”. In Samhällsvetenskap och vardagserfarenhet. Teori, praktik, etik. , Edited by: Eriksson , B‐E and Näsman , E. [city: Stockholm]: : Liber Utbildning. .
O'Brien , M. (1993). . “Social research and sociology. ”. In Researching Social Life. , Edited by: Gilbert , N. Sage Publications. .
Oliver , M. (1992). . Changing the Social Relations of Research Production?. . Disability, Handicap & Society , 7((2)): : 101.–.
Oliver , M. (1996). . Understanding Disability. From Theory to Practice. , Macmillan press Ltd. .
Shakespeare , T. (1996). . Rules of Engagement: doing disability research. . Disability & Society , 11((1)): : 115.–.
Sjöström , S. (1994). . “Professionell vänskap. ”. In Samhällsvetenskap & Vardagserfarenhet. Teori, praktik, etik. , Edited by: Eriksson , B‐E and Näsman , E. [city: Stockholm]: : Liber Utbildning. .
Taylor , S.J. and Bogdan , R. (1984). . Introduction to qualitative research methods: The search for meanings. , [city: New York]: : John Wiley & sons. .
Turnham , M. (1992). . “Supporting special needs in further education. ”. In Policies for Diversity in Education, Learning for All 2. , Edited by: Booth , T. , Swain , W. , Masterton , M. and Potts , P. [city: Routledge]: : The Open University. .
Tössebro , J. (1993). . “Gode levesteder for psykisk utviklingshemmete. En paternalists dilemma. ”. In Kunnskap og ettertanke. Psykisk utviklingshemning som flerfaglig utfording. , Edited by: Gjaerum , B. [city: Oslo]: : Universitetsforlaget. .
Wenger , G.C. (1987). . “Introduction: the Problematic Relationship. ”. In The Research Relationship. Practice and Politics in Social Policy Research. , Edited by: Wenger , G.C. Allen & Unwin. . again.

[CIT0001] Barnes , C. (1992). . Qualitative research: valuable or irrelevant?. . Disability, Handicap & Society , 7((2)): : 115.–.

[CIT0002] Barnes , C. (1996). . Disability and the Myth of the Independent Researcher. . Disability & Society , 11((1)): : 107.–.

[CIT0003] Eliasson , R. (1987). . Forskningsetik och Perspektivval. , [city: Lund]: : Studentlitteratur. .

[CIT0004] Goode , E. (1996). . The Ethics of Deception in Social Research: A Case Study. . Qualitative Sociology , 19((1)): : 11.–.

[CIT0005] Hertz , R. (1996). . Introduction: Ethics, Reflexivity and Voice. . Qualitative Sociology , 19((1)): : 3.–.

[CIT0006] Håkanson , K. (1988). . Den skapande tomhetens bild. Om kunskap och kärlek. , [city: Stockholm]: : Prisma. .

[CIT0007] Kimmel , A.J. (1988). . “Ethics and values in applied social research. ”. In Applied Social Research Methods Series. , Volume 12, Sage Publications. .

[CIT0008] Lien , I.L. (1991). . En god forsker eller en godt menneske. . Nytt Norsk Tidsskrift , 2

[CIT0009] Löchen , Y. (1972). . Sociologens dilemma. Vetenskaplig distans eller samhällsförändring. , Wahlström & Widstrand. .

[CIT0010] Löchen , Y. (1996). . "De funksjonshemmete”. , [city: Oslo]: : Rådet för funksjonshemmede. .

[CIT0011] Marshall , C. and Rossman , G.B. (1989). . “Designing qualitative research. ”. Sage Publications. .

[CIT0012] Moore , S. (1991). . Investigating Deviance. Sociology in action. , Collins Educational. .

[CIT0013] Morris , J. (1991). . Pride against Prejudice: transforming attitudes to disability. , [city: London]: : The Women's Press. .

[CIT0014] Munford , R. (1995). . A position of marginalization or inclusion? The experiences of women with disabilties. . New Zealand Journal of Disability Studies , 1: : 29.–. Massey University.

[CIT0015] Naples , N.A. (1996). . A Feminist Revisiting of the Insider/Outsider Debate: The “Outsider Phenomenon” in Rural Iowa. . Qualitative Sociology , 19((1)): : 83.–.

[CIT0016] Näsman , E. and Eriksson , B‐E (1994). . . “Inledning. Art närma sig samhällslivet. ”. In Samhällsvetenskap och vardagserfarenhet. Teori, praktik, etik. , Edited by: Eriksson , B‐E and Näsman , E. [city: Stockholm]: : Liber Utbildning. .

[CIT0017] O'Brien , M. (1993). . “Social research and sociology. ”. In Researching Social Life. , Edited by: Gilbert , N. Sage Publications. .

[CIT0018] Oliver , M. (1992). . Changing the Social Relations of Research Production?. . Disability, Handicap & Society , 7((2)): : 101.–.

[CIT0019] Oliver , M. (1996). . Understanding Disability. From Theory to Practice. , Macmillan press Ltd. .

[CIT0020] Shakespeare , T. (1996). . Rules of Engagement: doing disability research. . Disability & Society , 11((1)): : 115.–.

[CIT0021] Sjöström , S. (1994). . “Professionell vänskap. ”. In Samhällsvetenskap & Vardagserfarenhet. Teori, praktik, etik. , Edited by: Eriksson , B‐E and Näsman , E. [city: Stockholm]: : Liber Utbildning. .

[CIT0022] Taylor , S.J. and Bogdan , R. (1984). . Introduction to qualitative research methods: The search for meanings. , [city: New York]: : John Wiley & sons. .

[CIT0023] Turnham , M. (1992). . “Supporting special needs in further education. ”. In Policies for Diversity in Education, Learning for All 2. , Edited by: Booth , T. , Swain , W. , Masterton , M. and Potts , P. [city: Routledge]: : The Open University. .

[CIT0024] Tössebro , J. (1993). . “Gode levesteder for psykisk utviklingshemmete. En paternalists dilemma. ”. In Kunnskap og ettertanke. Psykisk utviklingshemning som flerfaglig utfording. , Edited by: Gjaerum , B. [city: Oslo]: : Universitetsforlaget. .

[CIT0025] Wenger , G.C. (1987). . “Introduction: the Problematic Relationship. ”. In The Research Relationship. Practice and Politics in Social Policy Research. , Edited by: Wenger , G.C. Allen & Unwin. . again.

Reading: Ethics in qualitative social research on marginalized groups

Original Articles

Ethics in qualitative social research on marginalized groups

Author:

Karin Barron

About Karin

X close

Abstract

References