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Institutional ethical review and ethnographic research involving injection drug users: A case study

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  • Small, Will
  • Maher, Lisa
  • Kerr, Thomas

Abstract

Ethnographic research among people who inject drugs (PWID) involves complex ethical issues. While ethical review frameworks have been critiqued by social scientists, there is a lack of social science research examining institutional ethical review processes, particularly in relation to ethnographic work. This case study describes the institutional ethical review of an ethnographic research project using observational fieldwork and in-depth interviews to examine injection drug use. The review process and the salient concerns of the review committee are recounted, and the investigators’ responses to the committee’s concerns and requests are described to illustrate how key issues were resolved. The review committee expressed concerns regarding researcher safety when conducting fieldwork, and the investigators were asked to liaise with the police regarding the proposed research. An ongoing dialogue with the institutional review committee regarding researcher safety and autonomy from police involvement, as well as formal consultation with a local drug user group and solicitation of opinions from external experts, helped to resolve these issues. This case study suggests that ethical review processes can be particularly challenging for ethnographic projects focused on illegal behaviours, and that while some challenges could be mediated by modifying existing ethical review procedures, there is a need for legislation that provides legal protection of research data and participant confidentiality.

Suggested Citation

  • Small, Will & Maher, Lisa & Kerr, Thomas, 2014. "Institutional ethical review and ethnographic research involving injection drug users: A case study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 157-162.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:104:y:2014:i:c:p:157-162
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.12.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Moore, David, 2004. "Governing street-based injecting drug users: a critique of heroin overdose prevention in Australia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 59(7), pages 1547-1557, October.
    2. Strauss, R.P. & Sengupta, S. & Quinn, S.C. & Goeppinger, J. & Spaulding, C. & Kegeles, S.M. & Millett, G., 2001. "The role of community advisory boards: Involving communities in the informed consent process," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 91(12), pages 1938-1943.
    3. Malone, R.E. & Yerger, V.B. & McGruder, C. & Froelicher, E., 2006. ""It's like tuskegee in reverse": A case study of ethical tensions in institutional review board review of community-based participatory research," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 96(11), pages 1914-1919.
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