Ethical practices with First Nations youth involved in participatory action research
Date
2003
Authors
Batten, Suzanne Lea
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Abstract
This thesis sought to expand on existing data concerning the Aboriginal experience of ethical issues in psychoeducational research. The research question focused on exploring the experiences and perceptions of Aboriginal youth who participate in research conducted in their communities. Through a qualitative approach, employing a lens of phenomenology, the study examined the experiences of five Aboriginal youth from an urban Vancouver Island setting who had participated in a recent participatory action research project. The purpose was to identify both appropriate and damaging research practices employed by researchers working in an Aboriginal youth context. Three major themes emerged from the data, Research Design and Methodology, Benefit to Participants, and Benefit to Community, all with several categories and sub-themes also identified. Major findings regarding ethics include implications for participatory action research, cross-cultural sensitivity by researchers, Aboriginal control over research, and directions for future ethical research design.