On Being Authentic: A Response to "No thank you, not today": Supporting Ethical and Professional Relationships in Large Qualitative Studies

Abstract

Written in response to the ethical and professional considerations associated with the conduct of a large qualitative study (BLODGETT, BOYER, & TURK, 2005), I argue the importance of authenticity in the research context, communi­cative interactions of value to the research, and the ethics of the study. I propose some alternative stances to those presented by the researchers in specific aspects of the study including construction of knowledge from the research, "walking in the shoes" of others, vulnerable populations, and insider-outsider interactions. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0503382

Keywords

• ethics
• qualitative research
• informed consent
• vulnerable populations
• power
• authenticity