%0 Journal Article
%T The infantilized researcher and research subject: ethics, consent and risk
%A James Connor
%A Jill Owen
%A Simon Copland
%J Qualitative Research
%@ 1741-3109
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/1468794117730686
%X Current research ethics processes, based on the mantra of privacy and institutional protection, take a paternalistic approach to research participants that leaves them open to harm. Reflecting on our own research/consultancy as a case study to illustrate the current flaws, we explore our and our subjects¡¯ experiences within the wider political context of institutional ethical rules and the Australian NHMRC guidelines. In doing so we argue for fundamental changes to the modern research ethics processes ¨C a system that treats participants more as research collaborators rather than victims in waiting. A complete review of ethics processes is needed to empower participants and researchers to recognize the reality of the process as co-created and negotiated. This includes changes at the top level of research administration ¨C a shift in ethics policies and procedures as well as greater education in ethics with commensurate trust for active researchers
%K confidentiality
%K consent
%K ethics
%K harm
%K qualitative research
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1468794117730686