Step 8: Gather Information Ethically

What is this step?

This step will help you gather your data according to the plan you made in phase 2 while considering how to do it ethically.

Considering how to gather data ethically helps to minimize harm to individuals or community, and rather maximizes the benefits.

Paying attention to ethics is especially important when researching with vulnerable groups (such as refugee newcomer). Refugee experiences of forced migration due to persecution or death can be difficult and must be considered in the evaluation.

Here are four ethical principles to consider in your evaluation:

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What do you need to do?

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Conduct your evaluation methods according to the plan you made in phase 2.

Be open for the unexpected and adjust as necessary. Research in community settings can be dynamic. In community-based evaluation it's OK to alter your plans accordingly.

Make sure that you pay attention to ethics. Here are three ways that this can be done:

Have your steering committee discuss ethical issues throughout the evaluation.
If you involved peer researchers (i.e., former refugee newcomers), invite them to speak into ethical issues in a way that draws on their lived experience.
Consider having a formal ethical review through the Community Research Ethics Office.

3 How can other SAHs help?

Our consultations with SAHs across Canada and a review of the literature emphasize the unique ethical issues when evaluating with refugee newcomers. These included:

Vulnerability:
- Refugee's precarious legal status
- Unequal power dynamics between researchers and participants
- Language and literacy barriers
- Unfamiliarity with research and evaluation procedures
- Emotional capacity and trauma of sharing personal stories
- (Mis)trust and conflict of interest between researchers and refugee communities.
Being trauma informed and creating a safe space:
- Building relationships of trust and mutual accountability
- Learning trauma informed approaches
- Preparing researcher and recognizing signs of trauma
- Responding appropriately through trauma informed knowledge, policies, practices, and procedures
- Avoiding trauma triggering practices
- Prioritizing safety in each step of the evaluation and engaging with community partners.
Life beyond sponsorship:
- Considering agency and re-enforcing the self-rescue story in the process of resettlement after fleeing to build a new home and life.
- Re-enforcing the right to exist (identity), and the ability to act (agency).