Ethical challenges of life story research with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability

Kathleen Ellem; Jill Wilson; Wing Hong Chui; Marie Knox

doi:10.1080/09687590802177064

Ethical challenges of life story research with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability

Kathleen Ellem, Jill Wilson, Wing Hong Chui, Marie Knox

Research output: Journal article publication › Review article › Academic research › peer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper outlines the ethical considerations when engaging in life story research with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability. Based on a study conducted in Queensland, Australia, the authors explore some of the challenges that have arisen through the lens of principle-based ethics. The significant disadvantage experienced by ex-prisoners with intellectual disability warrants further attention by social researchers, and care must be taken not to further harm this group through the research process. Issues pertaining to the broad ethical concepts of integrity, justice, respect for persons and beneficence are examined to identify the degree to which they can guide the actions of the life story researcher. Examples are given as to how the researcher responded to difficulties as they arose and the authors discuss ways forward from a principle-based approach.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	497-509
Number of pages	13
Journal	Disability and Society
Volume	23
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/09687590802177064
Publication status	Published - Aug 2008
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Ethical challenges
Intellectual disability
Learning disability
Life story research
Prison

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
General Health Professions
General Social Sciences

More information

10.1080/09687590802177064

Cite this

@article{dadd6145db604043b138a3772fee941a,

title = "Ethical challenges of life story research with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability",

abstract = "This paper outlines the ethical considerations when engaging in life story research with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability. Based on a study conducted in Queensland, Australia, the authors explore some of the challenges that have arisen through the lens of principle-based ethics. The significant disadvantage experienced by ex-prisoners with intellectual disability warrants further attention by social researchers, and care must be taken not to further harm this group through the research process. Issues pertaining to the broad ethical concepts of integrity, justice, respect for persons and beneficence are examined to identify the degree to which they can guide the actions of the life story researcher. Examples are given as to how the researcher responded to difficulties as they arose and the authors discuss ways forward from a principle-based approach.",

keywords = "Ethical challenges, Intellectual disability, Learning disability, Life story research, Prison",

author = "Kathleen Ellem and Jill Wilson and Chui, {Wing Hong} and Marie Knox",

note = "Funding Information: bDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, People{\textquoteright}s Republic of China; cSchool of Humanities and Human Services, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia Funding Information: The ethical acceptability of social science research involving humans in Australia is often determined by how well it meets the standards outlined by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). These standards have been outlined in the NHMRC{\textquoteright}s (1999) National statement on ethical conduct in research involving humans and refer to four key ethical principles – integrity, justice, respect for persons and beneficence. Although these principles are not mutually exclusive, for the sake of coherency this paper will examine each principle as they relate to this study with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability.",

year = "2008",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1080/09687590802177064",

language = "English",

volume = "23",

pages = "497--509",

journal = "Disability and Society",

issn = "0968-7599",

publisher = "Routledge",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Ethical challenges of life story research with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability

AU - Ellem, Kathleen

AU - Wilson, Jill

AU - Chui, Wing Hong

AU - Knox, Marie

N1 - Funding Information: bDepartment of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China; cSchool of Humanities and Human Services, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia Funding Information: The ethical acceptability of social science research involving humans in Australia is often determined by how well it meets the standards outlined by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). These standards have been outlined in the NHMRC’s (1999) National statement on ethical conduct in research involving humans and refer to four key ethical principles – integrity, justice, respect for persons and beneficence. Although these principles are not mutually exclusive, for the sake of coherency this paper will examine each principle as they relate to this study with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability.

PY - 2008/8

Y1 - 2008/8

N2 - This paper outlines the ethical considerations when engaging in life story research with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability. Based on a study conducted in Queensland, Australia, the authors explore some of the challenges that have arisen through the lens of principle-based ethics. The significant disadvantage experienced by ex-prisoners with intellectual disability warrants further attention by social researchers, and care must be taken not to further harm this group through the research process. Issues pertaining to the broad ethical concepts of integrity, justice, respect for persons and beneficence are examined to identify the degree to which they can guide the actions of the life story researcher. Examples are given as to how the researcher responded to difficulties as they arose and the authors discuss ways forward from a principle-based approach.

AB - This paper outlines the ethical considerations when engaging in life story research with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability. Based on a study conducted in Queensland, Australia, the authors explore some of the challenges that have arisen through the lens of principle-based ethics. The significant disadvantage experienced by ex-prisoners with intellectual disability warrants further attention by social researchers, and care must be taken not to further harm this group through the research process. Issues pertaining to the broad ethical concepts of integrity, justice, respect for persons and beneficence are examined to identify the degree to which they can guide the actions of the life story researcher. Examples are given as to how the researcher responded to difficulties as they arose and the authors discuss ways forward from a principle-based approach.

KW - Ethical challenges

KW - Intellectual disability

KW - Learning disability

KW - Life story research

KW - Prison

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=48849087803&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/09687590802177064

DO - 10.1080/09687590802177064

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:48849087803

SN - 0968-7599

VL - 23

SP - 497

EP - 509

JO - Disability and Society

JF - Disability and Society

IS - 5

ER -

Ethical challenges of life story research with ex-prisoners with intellectual disability

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

More information

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this