Research involving marginalized populations raises complex ethical concerns, particularly related to the extraction and use of knowledge without equitable benefit to the communities involved. This paper critically examines ethical principles in research design and implementation, focusing on the risks of exploitation, misrepresentation, and epistemic injustice. Drawing on case studies and ethical frameworks, we explore how power imbalances can lead to the commodification of lived experiences, where knowledge is extracted for academic or institutional gain without meaningful reciprocity. The paper advocates for participatory, community-led approaches that prioritize informed consent, co-authorship, cultural sensitivity, and long-term engagement. Emphasis is placed on shifting from extractive research paradigms to collaborative models that respect autonomy, promote justice, and ensure that research outcomes are both relevant and beneficial to the populations involved.

Ethical research, marginalized populations, knowledge extraction, participatory research, research ethics, epistemic justice, community-based research

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