Negotiating the ethical-political dimensions of research methods: a key competency in mixed methods, inter- and transdisciplinary, and co-production research

This paper argues that recognizing and negotiating the ethical-political dimensions of research methods is a crucial competency in mixed methods, inter- and transdisciplinary, and co-production research, especially when addressing societal challenges. The authors illustrate this using their experiences with a transdisciplinary sustainability science project combining photovoice and controlled behavioral experiments. They highlight two key dimensions: the potential contradiction between ethical standards generated by different methods and the variable societal effects of these methods. The paper details practices, including reading groups, video diaries, and facilitated dialogues, that helped navigate these dimensions and offers guidance for evaluating ethical-political rigor in such research.

Simon West, Caroline Schill