Doing ethical research: 'Whose problem is it anyway?'

On starting work at a university after a career as an advocate based in the community sector, one of the authors, Pittaway, was challenged by a senior colleague who said, 'Well Eileen, you are now going to have to decide if you are an academic or an activist - what will it be?' This made her determined to demonstrate her belief that the most effective advocacy was that backed by solid academic research. In 1999 she was joined in this endeavour by fellow academic Linda Bartolomei. Their years of experience working with marginalised and often vulnerable refugee women and communities has consolidated their view that research conducted with such groups which does not have an advocacy outcome can be seen as unethical. However, the issue is complex. The strength of the advocacy depends on the rigour and validity of the research outcomes. The often unquestioned power which researchers have in research projects has to be questioned. The issue of representation has to be addressed. The field of refugee studies is one in which it is often difficult or impossible for refugees to represent themselves and they are therefore dependent on others to advocate on their behalf. The advocacy positions developed can at times reflect more of the belief systems and bias of the researchers than of those they are representing.