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Research Ethics: Between Formal Norms and Intentions

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Abstract

This chapter discusses some of the challenges involved in conducting research in a post-disaster setting. For example, it is challenging for the researcher to maintain the well-being of participants especially if the researcher is a survivor himself/herself. This responsibility can have both positive and negative effects on the research process and requires ethical consideration of distress and sensitive topics. Consisting of three main topics, this chapter reflects on the emotional and interpersonal relationships of the researcher (also an earthquake survivor) during the research process. First, the negative feelings and experiences that were evoked during the research are discussed. Second, the chapter examines how the requirement of informed consent can sometimes contradict the ideal of maintaining openness and familiarity with participants. Third, there is a discussion about ownership of the research shared in this article. The chapter closes with suggestions for future research in disaster settings, especially with regard to associated ethical considerations such as concerns about exploiting the suffering and distress of individuals and communities through revisiting past experiences.

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Acknowledgements

The editors would like to thank Elise Serbaroli for her assistance in editing this chapter.

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Correspondence to Lucia Peppy Novianti .

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Novianti, L. (2014). Research Ethics: Between Formal Norms and Intentions. In: Zaumseil, M., Schwarz, S., von Vacano, M., Sullivan, G., Prawitasari-Hadiyono, J. (eds) Cultural Psychology of Coping with Disasters. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9354-9_6

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