Fisher, P (2011) Ethics in Qualitative Research: 'Vulnerability', citizenship and human rights. Ethics and Social Welfare, 6 (1). 2 - 17. ISSN 1749-6535
Abstract
This paper poses questions regarding the ethical prioritisation in qualitative research studies on assessing a person’s or a group’s fitness to provide informed consent, arguing that this may have unwanted as well as desirable consequences, particularly in relation to rights of citizenship for socially marginalised populations who tend to be labelled vulnerable. Drawing on three theoretical perspectives (Arendt, Honneth and Bourdieu), it is suggested that the emphasis placed on a research participant’s capacity to provide informed consent cannot be regarded solely as a protective measure for ‘vulnerable’ groups, but is also bound up with their social positioning as socially ‘deficient’ according to liberal (classical and neo-liberal) models of citizenship. Participation in a qualitative study can be seen as a dimension of the civil and human right to freedom of expression, and this can be particularly important for those labelled vulnerable as freedom of expression is a precondition for recognition and parity of status. Nevertheless, the importance of informed consent is not rejected; instead, it is posited that the protective rights accorded to vulnerable groups in qualitative research need to be considered alongside other human goods, such as the promotion of voice, agency and active citizenship.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Keywords: | ethics; qualitative research; vulnerability; citizenship |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Mental Health (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 05 Nov 2013 12:39 |
Last Modified: | 15 Sep 2014 02:48 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2011.591811 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/17496535.2011.591811 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:76827 |