Photovoice and refugee research: The case for a ‘layers’ versus ‘labels’ approach to vulnerability
‘Vulnerability’ is a key concept used to understand the ethical implications of conducting refugee-focused research. This case study illustrates the need to follow Luna’s (2009) call for a shift from a ‘labels’ to a ‘layers’ approach to vulnerability by analysing how two university ethics committees...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
SAGE
2019
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/77874 |
| _version_ | 1848763909712904192 |
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| author | Humpage, Louise Fozdar, Farida Marlowe, Jay Hartley, Lisa |
| author_facet | Humpage, Louise Fozdar, Farida Marlowe, Jay Hartley, Lisa |
| author_sort | Humpage, Louise |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | ‘Vulnerability’ is a key concept used to understand the ethical implications of conducting refugee-focused research. This case study illustrates the need to follow Luna’s (2009) call for a shift from a ‘labels’ to a ‘layers’ approach to vulnerability by analysing how two university ethics committees responded to issues of informed consent in two similar refugee research projects using the PhotoVoice method. The following commentary argues that, when driven by a research governance regime, ethics review risks viewing refugees through a static label of vulnerability, negatively affecting research viability and data quality. In contrast, a layers approach opens space for understanding the potential for vulnerability amongst refugee research participants while supporting PhotoVoice’s goals of empowerment and facilitating agency. The case study highlights the need for national-level ethics statements that encourage a more flexible approach within research institutions. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:10:57Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-77874 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:10:57Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | SAGE |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-778742020-05-06T07:25:15Z Photovoice and refugee research: The case for a ‘layers’ versus ‘labels’ approach to vulnerability Humpage, Louise Fozdar, Farida Marlowe, Jay Hartley, Lisa ‘Vulnerability’ is a key concept used to understand the ethical implications of conducting refugee-focused research. This case study illustrates the need to follow Luna’s (2009) call for a shift from a ‘labels’ to a ‘layers’ approach to vulnerability by analysing how two university ethics committees responded to issues of informed consent in two similar refugee research projects using the PhotoVoice method. The following commentary argues that, when driven by a research governance regime, ethics review risks viewing refugees through a static label of vulnerability, negatively affecting research viability and data quality. In contrast, a layers approach opens space for understanding the potential for vulnerability amongst refugee research participants while supporting PhotoVoice’s goals of empowerment and facilitating agency. The case study highlights the need for national-level ethics statements that encourage a more flexible approach within research institutions. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/77874 10.1177/1747016119864353 http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ SAGE fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Humpage, Louise Fozdar, Farida Marlowe, Jay Hartley, Lisa Photovoice and refugee research: The case for a ‘layers’ versus ‘labels’ approach to vulnerability |
| title | Photovoice and refugee research: The case for a ‘layers’ versus ‘labels’ approach to vulnerability |
| title_full | Photovoice and refugee research: The case for a ‘layers’ versus ‘labels’ approach to vulnerability |
| title_fullStr | Photovoice and refugee research: The case for a ‘layers’ versus ‘labels’ approach to vulnerability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photovoice and refugee research: The case for a ‘layers’ versus ‘labels’ approach to vulnerability |
| title_short | Photovoice and refugee research: The case for a ‘layers’ versus ‘labels’ approach to vulnerability |
| title_sort | photovoice and refugee research: the case for a ‘layers’ versus ‘labels’ approach to vulnerability |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/77874 |