The concept of ‘vulnerability’ in research ethics: an in-depth analysis of policies and guidelines

Bracken-Roche, Dearbhail; Bell, Emily; Macdonald, Mary Ellen; Racine, Éric

doi:10.1186/s12961-016-0164-6

Cited by 170 publications

(142 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…84-85). However, given that there is no shared definition of what counts as vulnerability (Bracken-Roche et al, 2017), it is equally important that researchers' perceptions of vulnerability do not prevent participation on the basis of a participant's perceived incapacity to give informed consent (Perry, 2011).…”

Section: Methodsology and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methodological diversity as an asset for transition‐focused higher education research with students from refugee backgrounds

Baker

Irwin

Taiwo

et al. 2018

Review of Education

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This paper discusses the methodological and logistical complexities that underpin multi‐method, multi‐sited, multi‐phased research with vulnerable communities. The project on which we draw was a 3‐year Australian government‐funded, longitudinal and cross‐sectional exploration of students from refugee backgrounds (SfRBs) as they moved into, through and out of higher education from three different contexts, educational pathways and localities in Australia. While all students entering and participating in higher education may experience challenges, for SfRBs these are compounded by their linguistic and cultural diversity, instability, possible trauma and disrupted schooling. In the project presented in this article, these complexities and their relationships with transitions to higher education were captured through diverse methods and methodologies at three research sites, including longitudinal research with repeat interviews and cross‐sectional, explorative methods. The opportunities provided by this methodological approach far outweighed the ethical and practical difficulties navigated by each of the research teams. The ‘thick’ data produced through prolonged and repeat engagements with a small cohort of participants at one site were made richer through explorations of differing social and geographical contexts across all three sites. Further, our collective interpretations of the data were made more robust through the reciprocity and reflexivity inherent in ethically researching with (not on) SfRBs and through multiple cross‐site research team interactions.

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Section: Methodsology and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methodological diversity as an asset for transition‐focused higher education research with students from refugee backgrounds

Baker

Irwin

Taiwo

et al. 2018

Review of Education

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show abstract

“…V současnosti se pojem zranitelnosti objevuje nejčastěji v bioetice a výzkumné etice, v níž zaujímá ústřední pozici (např. Toader, Damir, Toader 2013;Gjengedal et al 2013;Bracken-Roche et al 2017;Cunha, Garrafa 2016).…”

Section: Zranitelnost Z Intersekcionální Perspektivyunclassified

Elderly and Foreign: Vulnerability and Intersectionality in Healthcare

Hřešanová¹,

Glajchová²

2018

GV/GR

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This paper seeks to understand what constitutes vulnerability among healthcare users in relations and social interactions with their healthcare providers. While many authors see vulnerability as an intersection of more or less permanent categories, such as gender, sexuality, social class, or ethnicity/race etc., we point to much more subtle and situational forces at play. In particular, we argue that vulnerability results from patients' situational or contextual in/capability or un/willingness to communicate. We apply an interactional theory, namely a group-centred and relational approach (Choo, Ferree 2010; Giritli-Nygren, Olofsson 2014; McCall 2005) that focuses on particular marginalised groups and studies their relations to dominant groups. We build on ethnographic research with two different groups: (1) elderly patients in a long-term care unit; (2) foreign-born women who received care during their pregnancy and childbirth in Czech healthcare facilities and maternity wards. Our research includes participant observation in hospital settings and ethnographic in-depth and semistructured interviews with healthcare users as well as providers.

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“…A particular concern, given the subject matter of the interviews and the arguably vulnerable condition of the participants (who were all currently undergoing therapy), was the possible risk of distress to them. Those with 'mental health problems' are listed as vulnerable to discomfort and distress in a recent review of research ethics policies and guidelines (Bracken-Roche et al 2017).…”

Section: Ethical Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘You shut up and go along with it’: an interpretative phenomenological study of former professional footballers’ experiences of addiction

Brownrigg

Burr

Bridger

et al. 2017

Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health

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Research evidence suggests that professional players across a variety of sports may be at greater risk of developing addictions and other mental illnesses than the general population, both during and post-career. In this paper, we report findings from a larger project on the experiences of career transition in UK professional footballers that provide some insight into this. Using an Interpretative Phenomenological approach, four ex-professional footballers who were attending the Sporting Chance Clinic for help with problems concerning alcohol and gambling were interviewed in depth about their experiences. Focussing on issues the players perceived to be relevant to their addictions, the data were analysed thematically, drawing on Van Manen's phenomenological method, and individual case histories were also produced. The analysis suggested that club culture was key to understanding the players' difficulties; a harsh, unsupportive psychological environment combined with expectations of manliness resulted in a culture of silence in the face of personal difficulties. Relationships within the culture of profootball were fraught with anxiety and distrust, leaving the players feeling unable and unwilling to disclose their problems and feeling used and unvalued by their managers. The lack of supportive relationships in their clubs also resulted in loneliness and social withdrawal for the 2 participants. We conclude with a number of recommendations for the governing bodies in professional football, clubs and individual players.

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The concept of ‘vulnerability’ in research ethics: an in-depth analysis of policies and guidelines

Cited by 170 publications

References 27 publications

Methodological diversity as an asset for transition‐focused higher education research with students from refugee backgrounds

Methodological diversity as an asset for transition‐focused higher education research with students from refugee backgrounds

Elderly and Foreign: Vulnerability and Intersectionality in Healthcare

‘You shut up and go along with it’: an interpretative phenomenological study of former professional footballers’ experiences of addiction

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