Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this article is to discuss the ethical complexity and dilemmas, which arise in the coproduction of knowledge between researchers and other participants.
Design/methodology/approach
The starting-point for the article is a narrative from a conference we attended where we, as researchers, found ourselves on slippery and emotionally charged ground. Using a critical, reflexive approach informed by poststructuralism, our ambition was to deconstruct gaps between rhetoric and practice and critique normative understandings of the nature of ethically sound coproduction processes in collaborative research. More specifically, at the conference, we sought to expose and discuss the gap between our good intentions and our own practice as researchers in a collaborative research project at a major hospital. However, instead of reflexive discussions with the research community, we experienced that our conduct was criticized and categorized as unethical practice.
Findings
Instead of omitting sensitive phenomena from the research process, we argue that it is an ethical imperative to investigate these phenomena in order to gain insight into what is at stake in dialogical, reflexive processes not only between researchers and research participants – but also between researchers in the research community. An awareness of the emergent nature of power relations in all processes of knowledge production may strengthen the practical validity of “coproduced”
knowledge in action research.
Originality/value
A poststructuralist perspective on collaborative research processes reveals normative expectations regarding ethical research practice and provides insight into the tensions in collaborative research that arise irrespective of the individual competence (or not) of the researcher.
The purpose of this article is to discuss the ethical complexity and dilemmas, which arise in the coproduction of knowledge between researchers and other participants.
Design/methodology/approach
The starting-point for the article is a narrative from a conference we attended where we, as researchers, found ourselves on slippery and emotionally charged ground. Using a critical, reflexive approach informed by poststructuralism, our ambition was to deconstruct gaps between rhetoric and practice and critique normative understandings of the nature of ethically sound coproduction processes in collaborative research. More specifically, at the conference, we sought to expose and discuss the gap between our good intentions and our own practice as researchers in a collaborative research project at a major hospital. However, instead of reflexive discussions with the research community, we experienced that our conduct was criticized and categorized as unethical practice.
Findings
Instead of omitting sensitive phenomena from the research process, we argue that it is an ethical imperative to investigate these phenomena in order to gain insight into what is at stake in dialogical, reflexive processes not only between researchers and research participants – but also between researchers in the research community. An awareness of the emergent nature of power relations in all processes of knowledge production may strengthen the practical validity of “coproduced”
knowledge in action research.
Originality/value
A poststructuralist perspective on collaborative research processes reveals normative expectations regarding ethical research practice and provides insight into the tensions in collaborative research that arise irrespective of the individual competence (or not) of the researcher.
Bidragets oversatte titel | På usikker grund: På den anden side af uskyldighed i samarbejdende vidensproduktion |
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Originalsprog | Engelsk |
Tidsskrift | Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management |
Vol/bind | 13 |
Udgave nummer | 4 |
Sider (fra-til) | 356-367 |
Antal sider | 11 |
ISSN | 1746-5648 |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 12 okt. 2018 |
Begivenhed | Critical Management Studies - Britannia Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, Storbritannien Varighed: 3 jul. 2017 → 5 jul. 2017 Konferencens nummer: 10 https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/business/cms2017/ |
Konference
Konference | Critical Management Studies |
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Nummer | 10 |
Lokation | Britannia Adelphi Hotel |
Land/Område | Storbritannien |
By | Liverpool |
Periode | 03/07/2017 → 05/07/2017 |
Internetadresse |
Priser
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Pris for bedste paper på konferencen "Critical Management Studies"
Olesen, B. R. (Modtager), 4 jun. 2017
Pris: Priser, stipendier, udnævnelser