The setting of research can have an impact on ethical issues. Maybe one of the more dramatic examples would be conducting the same research project in a conflict setting versus a non-conflict setting. Similarly, conducting research after conflict has ended may impact ethical issues if a lot of mistrust persists. For different reasons, conducting a project in an urban setting may raise different ethical issues compared to a rural setting. Therefore, one way to explore the ethical issues in your research could be to start with its setting.
| Rural Rural and isolated areas |
| Hospital |
| Camp Conducting fieldwork research in a camp comes with nuances, unexpected events, and possibly danger. Researchers describe both the benefits and ethical challenges of research in camp environments, often depending on the layout of the camp and the experiences of those living in the camp. |
| Post-Conflict |
| Urban |
| Natural Disaster |
| Conflict Zone In areas of active conflict, research should not interfere with the provision of medical care and humanitarian aid. Nevertheless, collecting evidence-based data during conflict provides invaluable knowledge of the population’s needs and ways to effectively provide assistance. The following are ethical concerns to help researchers design and conduct research without creating additional harm to individuals living in conflict zones. |