Ethical mediation
Navigating research ethics and frictions in overseas fieldwork
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8360466 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sandra Hiari (0009-0002-9397-3444, University of Oxford, corresponding author), Maiss Razem (Al-Hussein Bin Talal University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Publication date | 2025-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Area (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0004-0894 • E-ISSN: 1475-4762 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/area.70029 |
| OpenAlex | W4411192237 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 35 |
This paper problematises the application of UK‐based research ethics policy for overseas fieldwork. It draws on our own fieldwork experiences as researchers holding double affiliations. On the one hand, we are affiliated with two UK universities, on the other, our overseas fieldwork sites are in our home country, Jordan. Insider researchers face multiple frictions as they navigate between ethics requirements by their institutions and their participants' culture. We argue that in the researchers' pursuit to uphold institutional policies of their universities while respecting the socio‐cultural sensibilities of their participants at overseas fieldwork sites, they engage in mediative acts. Thus, we put forth the concept of ethical mediation to describe these acts of mediation that researchers engage in. We discuss the concept through two topics that cause friction and prompt mediation: researchers’ positionality and informed consent. This paper examines our field experiences in conducting 80 semi‐structured interviews, including a structured 53‐page ethics diary. The data examination follows two approaches: a prospective approach that focuses on ethics processes from the onset of fieldwork preparation, and a retrospective approach that assesses ethical aspects after the conclusion of the research project. We conclude by reflecting on the role of ethics training. We also suggest measures for improving institutional ethics processes to support researchers as they engage in ethical mediation during overseas fieldwork
Engineering ethics · Mediation · Political science · Research ethics · Social science · Sociology · Data Analysis and Archiving · Engineering · Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics · Social Science and Policy Research
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |