Doing close-relative research: sticking points, method and ethical considerations

Abstract

Doing insider research can raise many problematic issues, particularly if the insiders are also close relatives. This paper deals with complexities arising from research which is participatory in nature. Thus, this paper seeks to describe the various sticking points that were encountered by the researcher when she decided to embark on insider research which focused on close relatives with a particular disability. These sticking points were encountered when the researcher had to decide about which methods of data collection should be used; when she had to see which criteria were to be taken into consideration when selecting participants; when dealing with issues of anonymity and informed consent; and when dealing with issues regarding representation and dissemination. Although such sticking points seemed to be insurmountable at times, by virtue of being aporetic, the researcher will discuss decisions taken in order to deal with these difficult situations while also keeping in mind ethical considerations.

Keywords:

• relatives
• method
• ethics
• sticking points
• aporia
• autoethnography

Acknowledgements

I sincerely thank Dr Duncan Mercieca (Head of Department, Education Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Malta) for the advice he offered me while writing this paper. I would also like to acknowledge the European Social Fund as well as local government for funding the Master's programme of which my dissertation was a component. I would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions which helped in the amelioration of this work.

Notes

1. I thank an anonymous reviewer for bringing this article to my attention.

2. See note 1.