Research ethics and ethical research: some observations from the Global South

This paper aims to achieve two objectives. Firstly, it elicits some of the concerns for universal research ethics. It is argued that ethical codes are never universal; they are geographically sensitive. As such, it is important to “develop authentic individual responses to potentially unique circumstances” . Secondly, in going beyond a universal notion of ethics, it is observed that there is a dearth of analysis on post-research ethics. Majority of the existing literature focuses on ethical issues before and during a research; limited attention has been given to ethical decisions beyond its completion. Relationship with the researched community stretches beyond the boundaries of the research process, and should be incorporated into the researcher’s “ethics of care”. It is suggested that by reciprocating kindness in humble but practical ways, one may also contribute to an ethical research. In all, by highlighting the limitations of prescriptive and universal research ethics and advocating for pluralism in defining an ethical research, it is hoped that this paper contributes to a “geographically sensitive ethics and an ethically sensitive geography”.