Given the topics of research of the Global Initiative, this may include working with vulnerable populations, for example, prison populations, victims of crime (e.g human trafficking), individuals with substance abuse issues, individuals who are culturally vulnerable due to marginalisation or persecution, and workers and employees in both licit and illicit industries.
In order to prevent their re-victimisation or exacerbating their vulnerability through research, the Global Initiative insists that all researchers carefully consider when and how to conduct research with vulnerable or potentially vulnerable populations. Remember, in our Code of Ethics it is key that we do no harm.
Traits of Vulnerability
- Cognitive or communicative vulnerability encompasses several different types of individuals: those who do not have the cognitive capacity to understand all or part of the research. They may lack the ability to understand what consent means or what they are consenting to. Communicative vulnerability encompasses those who are presented a consent form in a language they cannot read or presented with explanations in a language they do not understand. Individuals may also be cognitively or communicatively vulnerable if they are given a consent form when they are in crisis.
- Institutional vulnerability pertains to individuals who are under at least partial control of an institution, like asylum seekers or prisoners. These individuals may be more likely to consent because they may (correctly or incorrectly) believe that consenting will confer upon them some form of benefit, such as a better grade or privileges.
- Deferential vulnerability refers to individuals who are informally subordinate to another person. In some cultures, women may defer to their husbands wishes for them to participate. In this case it is not so much that the individual subject is making a decision to participate but the person to whom they are subordinate is making it for them.
- Medical vulnerability pertains to individuals who have serious health conditions for which there is no satisfactory treatment. These individuals may be more likely to consent to research because there is no cure for their ailment and it offers them hope. Individuals who are currently abusing substances have a definite impaired ability to give consent and may also be more likely to accept monetary inducements to participate in research.
- Economic vulnerability may happen when participation is sought from individuals who lack basic necessities like housing, healthcare, and money. If participation in the research is perceived to be offering them these basics of life then they cannot make informed decisions regarding participation.
- Social vulnerability pertains to those research subjects who may be seen as less respected or “less-than” because of social position. If researchers see the participants as less valuable members of society, then they may subject them to more risk.
Value of the Research
While we do not follow academic ethics requirements, it is worth considering the recommendations and considerations generally made for interviewing with vulnerable persons:
- Consent: Is the particular population is able to give consent to participate in research. This requires a certain cognitive ability to understand what will happen in the research, what risks may be involved, and that participation is voluntary.
- Level of risk vs. reward: What is the benefit of involving the vulnerable population int her research? Will the individual subjects benefit from the study, or the group to which study subjects belong? Individual benefits are given greater weight than group benefits.
- Possibility of coercion: Some vulnerable subjects may be easily coerced because they might feel that they must participate in research in order to continue to be taken care of or because a person of authority tells them to participate. This is of particular concern with those in institutions or facilities where their care is provided: e.g. refugees or asylum seekers; those in detention, or victims of trafficking.
This is not intended to prevent you doing research with vulnerable groups, but to carefully consider the relationships and perceptions between you and the subject before you begin research, to avoid increasing their vulnerability or re-victimising them.
Preventing Re-Victimisation and Exacerbating Vulnerability
There is no one way to do this kind of research in a failsafe manner. But you need to make sure that those you research with come to no harm. Thinking ahead and broadly around the following issues, and discussing them with your team and supervisor, will go a long way to reducing risks of revictimisation of your research subjects. You should also look at our Guidelines for Research.
- Getting consent. Make sure you are clear about who you are, what the objectives of your work are. Think about how you communicate – use simple language, consider whether oral or written communication would be better. If consent has been given by an institution, remember individual consent is also required.
- Confidentiality. How are you going to ensure the privacy and rights of the people you interview? You need to make every effort to minimise the repercussions of participating in the study. The Guidelines for Research also apply here. Will they be featured by name or in photos? Can you anonymise the data when it is presented? Have you taken the necessary measures to keep the data you collected secure? See our Security Manual and the Basic Security Guidelines for reference.
- How hard to probe. In our line of work, it may be tempting to push interviewees to provide operational details on the crimes or people that they have been involved in/with, to try and understand their experiences, the modus operandi or criminal ecosystem. Never push an interviewee too far. Stop as soon as they show reluctance or distress.
- Location. Where are you going to hold the interview? How will you ensure the location is neutral and safe for both the participants and you? Will they be seen by people they know? Can conversations be overheard?
- Follow up. Consider what the participant expects from the research process, and how you meet those expectations. You should be clear about how, when and where the data will be available, and what action might result from it. In some cases, vulnerable persons participate in research because they want to see some change. You should be respectful of their goals and let them know when a study has been published, share with them a copy, and let them know what the follow up has been.