A Network for Rethinking Academic Research Ethics Frameworks and Processes in the Humanities

重新思考人文学科学术研究伦理框架和流程的网络

• 批准号: AH/V001043/1
• 负责人: Jonathan Kasstan
• 金额: $ 3.07万
• 依托单位: University of Westminster
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2021 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=AH%2FV001043%2F1
• 关键词: Network; Rethinking; Academic; Research; Ethics

Research ethics frameworks are designed to facilitate ethical research and to protect both participants and researchers. Yet in the humanities context there are problems with how these frameworks are applied by University Ethics Committees (UECs). The consequence is that research in the most challenging and necessary areas of humanities disciplines is prevented from taking place. This risk of forestalling research applies to work on refugees, religious and far-right discourse, women's sexuality, race, crime and violence, drug use and work on any vulnerable group such as children, those who have suffered personal or state violence, and those with disabilities. Research in the humanities disciplines is instead steered towards 'safe' rather than challenging investigations, and away from areas that are more ethically challenging. Rather than rising to the challenge of complex ethical demands to undertake urgent work, we sidestep the problem. The consequence is that potential beneficiaries outside of academia, and society more widely, do not benefit from the findings of challenging, innovative and rigorous research. A further consequence is that when research does go ahead, an opportunity is missed to adequately support this research.The problem is that ethical frameworks used by institutions were designed originally for the sciences and their primary aim was to prevent physical abuse of participants and medical malpractice. The consequence is that medical and psychological models and principles are applied which are not appropriate for the diversity of disciplines, participants and researchers involved in humanities work. The response to this lack of 'fit' is often to over-regulate, rather than guide and to close discussion rather than to stimulate it. The practical outcome is that excessive forms and procedure can end up hampering the fragile yet necessary trust relationship in fieldwork in challenging areas, such as research in refugee camps, thereby making the research impossible. UECs necessarily and understandably focus on the application of rules, yet 'hard and fast' rules are not the best way to approach methodology and ethics, particularly in areas where access is impossible by overt methods and there must be a degree of flexibility depending on the research context.By reaching across disciplines to draw out the problems specific to each field, as well as identifying common problems and impact across disciplinary, theoretical and methodological boundaries, we will establish a Network for understanding how research ethics frameworks and processes might be reformed to better fit the humanities. The Network will do this by focusing on the diversity of experiences and needs of the field and identifying and engaging the beneficiaries of challenging work. The seminar and two workshops will be unique in allowing this opportunity. The impact will be wide-ranging, initiating a shift in research culture from a focus on commercial and legal viability to supportive processes that encourage work that benefits a more inclusive set of communities and researchers.

研究伦理框架旨在促进符合伦理的研究，并保护参与者和研究人员。然而，在人文背景下，这些框架如何被大学伦理委员会（UECs）应用的问题。其结果是，在人文学科最具挑战性和必要的领域的研究被阻止发生。这种阻碍研究的风险适用于关于难民、宗教和极右翼言论、妇女的性行为、种族、犯罪和暴力、毒品使用的工作，以及关于儿童、遭受个人或国家暴力的人和残疾人等任何弱势群体的工作。相反，人文学科的研究转向“安全”，而不是具有挑战性的研究，远离更具伦理挑战性的领域。我们没有站起来迎接复杂的道德要求的挑战，开展紧急工作，而是回避了这个问题。其结果是，学术界以外的潜在受益者，以及更广泛的社会，不能从具有挑战性的，创新的和严格的研究结果中受益。另一个后果是，当研究继续进行时，错过了充分支持这项研究的机会，问题是机构使用的伦理框架最初是为科学设计的，其主要目的是防止对参与者的身体虐待和医疗事故。其结果是，所采用的医学和心理学模式和原则不适合人文学科工作的学科、参与者和研究人员的多样性。对这种缺乏“适合”的反应往往是过度监管，而不是引导，关闭讨论，而不是刺激讨论。实际结果是，过多的形式和程序最终可能会阻碍在具有挑战性的领域（例如难民营研究）的实地工作中脆弱但必要的信任关系，从而使研究变得不可能。UECs必然和可以理解的是，集中在规则的应用，但'硬和快速'的规则不是最好的方式来处理方法和伦理，特别是在那些不可能通过公开的方法，必须有一定程度的灵活性，这取决于研究背景的领域。通过跨学科的接触，找出每个领域的具体问题，以及确定跨学科的共同问题和影响，为了打破理论和方法的界限，我们将建立一个网络，以了解如何改革研究伦理框架和过程，以更好地适应人文学科。为此，该网络将侧重于外地经验和需求的多样性，并确定富有挑战性的工作的受益者，让他们参与进来。研讨会和两个讲习班将是独一无二的，使这一机会。影响将是广泛的，引发研究文化的转变，从关注商业和法律的可行性转向支持性进程，鼓励有利于更具包容性的社区和研究人员的工作。