Chapter 2: Principles

Overview of contents

• Ethical research principles
  The idea of ethical space

• Ethical research practice
  The development of ethics guidelines
  Applying ethics guidelines

• Six values that guide ethical research
  Spirit and integrity
  What do spirit and integrity look like in a research project?
  Reciprocity
  What does reciprocity look like in a research project?
  Respect
  What does respect look like in a research project?
  Equality
  What does equality look like in a research project?
  Survival and protection
  What do survival and protection look like in a research project?
  Responsibility
  What does responsibility look like in a research project?

• Key messages for researchers

Excerpt from Chapter 2

In recent decades Indigenous Australians, like other Indigenous communities around the world, have led action to change the way research is done. Many non-Indigenous people have joined in these efforts. Poor research practices have been actively resisted. Ethical processes for research have been strengthened. Research that does not offer benefit has been rejected. There have been calls for more accountability, Indigenous leadership and rights in research.

This chapter outlines some of the responses to these calls. It explains how guidelines were developed for ethical research in Indigenous health. It brings values like respect, reciprocity, survival and protection into reality and practice through the words of researchers and research participants.

To read the full chapter, purchase a copy of Researching Indigenous Health: A Practical Guide for Researchers.