Introductory statement

We are operating within a context of ever changing policy which can be very difficult for refugee people seeking asylum. These guidelines have been produced because, despite an explosion of research on refugee people seeking asylum, research approaches are in our view very often inappropriate and unethical for a highly vulnerable and ever-changing population.

As a whole, these guidelines attempt to present an ‘ideal’ research methodology. However, in practice, we recognise that researchers are faced with limitations (often financial) which mean that it is not always possible for them to adhere to all the points that follow. In such circumstances, it would be helpful and ethical for researchers to specify the constraints under which they are working and the consequences those constraints have on the research. Research should be conducted within the professional ethics code of the appropriate professional body, e.g., the Social Research Association, the British Sociological Association, the British Anthropological Association or the British Medical Association.

Approach

In general and from the outset, good practice in research:

• • recognises that people may see the social world differently. The research need to be open to different ways of seeing, interpreting and acting in the world so that these different ways of seeing the social world are able to be articulated and demonstrated;

• • identifies existing research and justifies the usefulness of the new research in terms of benefits to refugee people seeking asylum;

• • states clearly the researchers’ aims and what they want to try and do with the research findings;

• • sets up procedures ensuring adherence to confidentiality agreements reached with participating refugee people seeking asylum;

• • aims to address issues affecting refugee people seeking asylum and therefore allows input from refugee people seeking asylum;

• • acknowledges that refugee people seeking asylum have very valuable knowledge about the British system gained from their own experience;

• • is open and honest with potential participants about the extent to which the researchers on the project intend to allow participants to become involved in shaping and directing the project;

• • reports findings using non-discriminatory language. This involves recognising that certain words or phrases that may cause offence should be avoided. Most professional guidelines will offer advice;