Critical Prison Research and University Research Ethics Boards
Homogenization of Inquiry and Policing of Carceral Knowledge
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl/0000-0000-0000-0931Keywords:
Canada, critical research, Indigenous, prison, research ethicsAbstract
This article illustrates how authoritative regulatory practices that research ethics boards may deploy when assessing non-traditional social research may pave the way to a homogenization of inquiry and forms of policing of knowledge. The authors sought institutional ethics clearance from multiple research ethics boards in the case of a critically-oriented participatory action-based study with formerly incarcerated persons in Canada. Evidence is provided from two case studies. Two unexpected challenges were encountered from research ethics board members. The first challenge was related to the board’s stereotypical bias about the violent potential of former prisoners (as co-researchers and participants). The second challenge was related to an overly cautious interpretation of federal ethical guidelines leading to the exclusion of Indigenous peoples from the project. Both challenges have in common that they point to research ethics boards’ possible role in the policing of knowledge which may jeopardize researchers’ ability to engage in critical scholarship.
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