Ethical considerations when conservation research involves people

Abstract

Social science is becoming increasingly important in conservation, with more studies involving methodologies that collect data from and about people. Conservation science is a normative and applied discipline designed to support and inform management and practice. Poor research practice risks harming participants and, researchers, and can leave negative legacies. Often, those at the forefront of field-based research are early-career researchers, many of whom enter their first research experience ill-prepared for the ethical conundrums they may face. We draw on our own experiences as early-career researchers to illuminate how ethical challenges arise during conservation research that involves human participants. Specifically, we considered ethical review procedures, conflicts of values, and power relations, and devised broad recommendations on how to navigate ethical challenges when they arise during research. In particular, we recommend researchers apply reflexivity (i.e., thinking that allows researchers to recognize the effect researchers have on the research) to help navigate ethical challenges and encourage greater engagement with ethical review processes and the development of ethical guidelines for conservation research that involves human participants. Such guidelines must be accompanied by the integration of rigorous ethical training into conservation education. We believe our experiences are not uncommon and can be avoided and hope to spark discussion to contribute to a more socially just conservation.

Conservation and people: Towards an ethical code of conduct for the use of camera traps in wildlife research

“…We do recognize that there are no simple solutions to the complex balance between the ethical and the legal aspects involved (Brittain et al., 2020). For example, there may be situations where, because of not having followed purpose limitation or disclosure processes adequately, researchers may feel compelled to withhold information regarding an illegal activity caught on cameras.…”

Implementing the Ballot Box Method to reduce social desirability bias when researching sensitive behaviours in conservation

“…Regardless of the field, institution or topic, researchers have an obligation to reflect on the ethical implications of their work, and to protect research participants from any adverse consequences from their involvement in the research (Brittain et al, 2020). This should involve the review of research protocols by an ethical review board, to ensure adherence to certain principles such as informed consent, voluntary participation, right to withdraw, no harm to participants, no use of deception, preservation of anonymity and confidentiality, data protection, among others (Vanclay et al, 2013).…”

How to address data privacy concerns when using social media data in conservation science

“…Toivonen et al (2019) reviewed the use of social media data in conservation science. Similar to other research involving people (Brittain et al 2020), researchers using social media data need to carefully consider traditional ethical principles of humansubject research (Ess 2019; Toivonen et al 2019). A key area of ethical concern with the use of social media data in scientific research is whether such data should be considered public or private (Zimmer 2010).…”

“…Similar to other research involving people (Brittain et al. 2020), researchers using social media data need to carefully consider traditional ethical principles of human‐subject research (Ess 2019; Toivonen et al. 2019).…”