Beyond informed consent: how is it possible to ethically evaluate Indigenous programs?

This paper from the North Australia Research Unit (NARU) of the Australian National University (ANU) analyses the ethical considerations of evaluating indigenous programs and argues that the variety issues presented in these evaluations are not always identified or taken into consideration.  

The paper presents a range of brief vignettes to demonstrate both positive and negative examples of the need for better ethical guidelines for the evaluation of indigenous programs.  The authors then present four paths forward to meet the challenges identified in the examples given: 

  • Improving ethical guidelines
  • Greater recognition of role of commissioners and users
  • Special evaluation committees
  • Move towards new paradigm of evaluation

Contents

  • Introduction
  • Ethical guidelines
  • Evaluation in indigenous contexts
  • Ethical challenges in evaluation
  • Examples from the authors’ experiences
  • Vignette 1—Evaluations involving traditional knowledge
  • Vignette 2—Design based on purchaser convenience rather than project logic
  • Vignette 3—Unethical timelines
  • Vignette 4—Identifying stakeholders
  • Vignette 5—Multiple lines of accountability
  • Vignette 6—Pressure on reporting results
  • Vignette 7—Feeding back information to stakeholders
  • Vignette 8—Decision-making and informing stakeholders
  • Four paths forward
  • Improving ethical guidelines
  • Greater recognition of role of commissioners and users
  • Special evaluation committees
  • Move towards new paradigm of evaluation
  • Conclusion
  • References

Sources

Williams, E., Guenther, J., & Arnott, A. Australian National University (ANU), North Australia Research Unit (NARU). (2011). Beyond informed consent: how is it possible to ethically evaluate indigenous programs?. Retrieved from website: http://naru.anu.edu.au/__documents/seminars/2011/paper_williams_2011.pdf