Drawing on the real voices and experiences of researchers, this book illustrates how the British Educational Research Association (BERA) Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research can be used to appraise research studies ethically. Researchers have choices when they design, conduct and report their research. These choices have consequences for others – funders, sponsors, those who facilitate access to research settings, those in the research settings, participants and the researchers. Sometimes the consequences can be anticipated and positive consequences can be maximised in the research design and negative consequences minimised. Sometimes the consequences only become apparent as the research unfolds.

This book presents a series of case studies following researchers in their decision-making through studies in a range of settings to consider different ways to deal with ethical dilemmas raised. The authors draw on their experiences to explain researcher thinking and how this relates to enacting values, pointing to relevant advice in the BERA ethical guidelines. They also explore choices not taken, considering the possible implications from such decisions, and how other researchers might have made different decisions based on different positionality. The book confronts rather than avoids the application of Global North derived guidance for research in settings other than the UK. As well as thought provoking case studies, the book puts forward questions for readers to relate to their own research contexts and recommended reading for further thinking about the issues raised.

Published in partnership with the British Educational Research Association.

Alison Fox is Senior Lecturer in Learning and Teaching, School Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport at the Open University, UK.