Ethical Considerations in Research with Marginalized Populations: Addressing Knowledge Extraction
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Abstract
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.
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References
1. Fahlberg, A. (2023). Decolonizing sociology through collaboration, co-learning and action: A case for participatory action research. Sociological Forum, 38, 95–120.
2. Gibbons, M., Limoges, C., Nowotny, H., & Schwartzman, S. (2010). The New Production of Knowledge: The Dynamics of Science and Research in Contemporary Societies. London: SAGE.
3. Howard-Grenville, J. (2021). Grand challenges, COVID-19 and the future of organizational scholarship. Journal of Management Studies, 58, 254–58.
4. Pittaway, E., Bartolomei, L., & Hugman, R. (2010). “Stop stealing our stories”: The ethics of research with vulnerable groups. Journal of Human Rights Practice, 2, 229–51.
5. Yarbrough, D. (2020). Nothing about us without us: Reading protests against oppressive knowledge production as guidelines for solidarity research. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 49, 58–85.
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