Conference presentation
Voicing the Unheard: Ethical Foundations in Research with Children of Incarcerated Parents
PRAXIS Conference 2025, 12th (SCU Gold Coast Campus, 19/06/2025–20/06/2025)
20/06/2025
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Abstract
This presentation will focus on the ethical foundations underpinning our research with children and young people whose parents are incarcerated, a vulnerable population often marginalised in policy and research. Recognising their heightened vulnerability due to potential Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the pervasive stigma associated with parental incarceration, a robust and carefully developed ethical approach was paramount from the outset. Crucially, our ethical framework was intentionally designed to avoid pathologising these young people, focusing instead on understanding their experiences and resilience within the educational context. This presentation will detail the principles and processes guiding our research, highlighting ethics not as a hurdle but as the very bedrock of our methodology and the primary mechanism for safeguarding participants and ensuring their experiences are not framed as deficits.
Central to our approach was the development of a trauma-informed framework, meticulously shaping interview protocols to prioritise the young people's perspectives on their education whilst minimising potential distress and avoiding language that could inadvertently label. We will explain the strategies employed to ensure genuinely informed consent and ongoing assent, navigating complex familial situations with a steadfast commitment to the child's best interests and autonomy. Furthermore, we will outline our culturally responsive engagement, particularly concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, guided by principles of self-determination and community consultation, ensuring their experiences are understood within their cultural context, not through a lens of pathology.
A core focus will be on the proactive measures taken to ensure participant safety, including aspects of rigorous data management, transparent community engagement and communication. This presentation will underscore the iterative ethical reflection and adaptation process that informed our research design and interactions, continually assessing our language and approach to avoid pathologising narratives. By detailing the development of our ethical foundations, we aim to offer insights and practical considerations for others engaged in similar research landscapes, demonstrating how a primary focus on ethical safeguarding can lead to responsible and impactful inquiry that centres the lived experiences of participants.
Details
- Title
- Voicing the Unheard: Ethical Foundations in Research with Children of Incarcerated Parents
- Creators
- David Shaw - Southern Cross University
- Conference
- PRAXIS Conference 2025, 12th (SCU Gold Coast Campus, 19/06/2025–20/06/2025)
- Identifiers
- 991013297355602368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Education
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference presentation