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For an ethics of generosity : Values for ethnography in a time of regulatory ethics

Atkinson, Paul ; Cataldi, Silvia and Wästerfors, David LU (2024) In Qualitative Research
Abstract

The paper recommends a values-driven regeneration of research ethics for ethnography. In contrast to the current regulatory version of research ethics we propose a more subtle, field-oriented and traditional version, grounded in ethnographic experience. The paper is in three parts. The first part highlights the tacit assumptions of current systems of ethical approval for social research and their unintended and even perverse effects. Ethnography is the focus of the second part, where we highlight the distinctive issues for ethnographic research of current practice. In the final part we argue for a culture of ethnographic work grounded in an ethnographic understanding of social conduct and an ethic of generosity. Defined as a key-value... (More)

The paper recommends a values-driven regeneration of research ethics for ethnography. In contrast to the current regulatory version of research ethics we propose a more subtle, field-oriented and traditional version, grounded in ethnographic experience. The paper is in three parts. The first part highlights the tacit assumptions of current systems of ethical approval for social research and their unintended and even perverse effects. Ethnography is the focus of the second part, where we highlight the distinctive issues for ethnographic research of current practice. In the final part we argue for a culture of ethnographic work grounded in an ethnographic understanding of social conduct and an ethic of generosity. Defined as a key-value for social sensitivity, this implies abandoning a procedural logic in favour of a values-based research culture faithful to the spirit of ethnographic and qualitative inquiry.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
in press
subject
keywords
ethnography, generosity, research ethics, values
in
Qualitative Research
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:85195979047
ISSN
1468-7941
DOI
10.1177/14687941241259978
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a5ff9a47-c3b2-4368-ac08-3c46ee0f90ad
date added to LUP
2024-09-11 14:47:33
date last changed
2024-09-11 14:48:27
@article{a5ff9a47-c3b2-4368-ac08-3c46ee0f90ad,
  abstract     = {{<p>The paper recommends a values-driven regeneration of research ethics for ethnography. In contrast to the current regulatory version of research ethics we propose a more subtle, field-oriented and traditional version, grounded in ethnographic experience. The paper is in three parts. The first part highlights the tacit assumptions of current systems of ethical approval for social research and their unintended and even perverse effects. Ethnography is the focus of the second part, where we highlight the distinctive issues for ethnographic research of current practice. In the final part we argue for a culture of ethnographic work grounded in an ethnographic understanding of social conduct and an ethic of generosity. Defined as a key-value for social sensitivity, this implies abandoning a procedural logic in favour of a values-based research culture faithful to the spirit of ethnographic and qualitative inquiry.</p>}},
  author       = {{Atkinson, Paul and Cataldi, Silvia and Wästerfors, David}},
  issn         = {{1468-7941}},
  keywords     = {{ethnography; generosity; research ethics; values}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Qualitative Research}},
  title        = {{For an ethics of generosity : Values for ethnography in a time of regulatory ethics}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/14687941241259978}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/14687941241259978}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}