Ethical Concerns With Refugee Research

Abstract

The number of refugees and internally displaced people is rising every minute worldwide. Furthermore, new categories of refugees, such as climate refugees or nuclear refugees, are adding to the traditional groups of natural disaster and war refugees. Implementing research with this complicated group poses numerous ethical issues for researchers. In this article, the author categorizes refugee groups and presents different concerns and obstacles that may arise during research with diverse communities of refugees. The author discusses ways to cope with sensitive areas of study and examines several options of ethically interviewing refugees, cooperating with host community leaders, trusted members of the society, gatekeepers, and translators.

Keywords:

• Refugees
• internally displaced people
• relocation
• minorities
• cultural diversity
• confidentiality
• ethical issues