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Anonymity versus advocacy: Challenges and pitfalls of ethical island research

Matheson, Kate; Pawson, Chris; Clegg, Peter

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Authors

Kate Matheson Kate2.Matheson@uwe.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Criminology

Chris Pawson Chris.Pawson@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor in Applied Psychology and Behavioural Science

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Peter Clegg Peter.Clegg@uwe.ac.uk
Dean and Head of School of Social Sciences



Abstract

The purpose of much island research is to advocate for island communities, to encourage island scholarship by islanders themselves, and where that is not possible, to promote the voices of islanders ‘on their own terms’ (Baldacchino, 2008). However, the very nature of small islands as socially and physically bounded communities, means that, whilst one voice cannot speak for the entire community, often the voice speaking is easily recognisable. This can result in the risk of local retribution, or more commonly truths going unspoken and power imbalances remaining unaddressed. To undertake island scholarship, it may be necessary in some cases, to anonymise the island, or at least aspects of it, in order to anonymise the speaker. In this paper, by drawing on examples from our own research on islands around the UK and other research in very small island communities, we consider the difficulty participants may face in speaking openly, and address the conflicts that confront researchers between supporting island stories whilst also offering a balanced reflection of island life. We suggest that while it is clearly important that island voices are heard, and that islanders speak on their own terms, there are instances where the off-island voice may be better placed to address island issues. The best route to do this may be via some form of anonymization of subject and/or place of the research.

Citation

Matheson, K., Pawson, C., & Clegg, P. (2020). Anonymity versus advocacy: Challenges and pitfalls of ethical island research. Round Table, 109(6), 720-729. https://doi.org/10.1080/00358533.2020.1849500

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 10, 2020
Online Publication Date Dec 17, 2020
Publication Date Dec 17, 2020
Deposit Date Jan 5, 2021
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal The Round Table
Print ISSN 0035-8533
Electronic ISSN 1474-029X
Publisher Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 109
Issue 6
Pages 720-729
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/00358533.2020.1849500
Keywords Geography, Planning and Development
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/6971346
Additional Information Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=ctrt20; Published: 2020-12-17

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