Cultural discernment as an ethics framework: An Indigenous Fijian approach

Abstract

The praxis of an Indigenous Fijian researcher who is both an insider/outsider offers some valuable lessons for ethnographic work. This paper introduces 'cultural discernment' as a concept used to ensure that the research process is culturally ethical within the research setting.An insider will always require a sense of cultural discernment, recognising that actions taken have implications that are critical and remain with the researcher for life. The paper contextualises the concept of cultural discernment in relation to Fijian epistemology. Although there are risks within any research project with regard to ethics processes and the conduct of research, this paper will illustrate how Western paradigms associated with 'expert knowledge' and the 'lay knowledges' of an Indigenous population group produce competing understandings about ethical practice. The paper draws on a doctoral research project exploring the cultural conceptualisation of health and well-being, conducted in Fiji and New Zealand. The research process and steps carried out in this study ensured those actions were culturally appropriate and ethically sound from an Indigenous Fijian perspective.

Indigenous knowledge around the ethics of human research from the Oceania region: A scoping literature review

“… • Culturally and linguistically appropriate [ 25 , 40 , 60 ]. • Communitarian approach to IC [ 9 , 32 , 48 , 54 ] • Acceptable processes of IC for increased understanding; audiovisuals and graphics, provide options of oral or written forms. Read out loud then consent can be audio recorded.…”

“… • Western paradigms are associated with expert knowledge while indigenous paradigms are associated with “lay knowledge”. Western ideas adopted in research methodologies cannot be applied to the understanding of Pacific Island culture [ 25 , 27 , 54 , 60 ]. (iv) Research Ethics Governance with Indigenous People Principles commonly expressed in national HRE Guidelines are; • Responsibilities and cultural continuity [ 28 , 64 ] • Respect for persons [ 28 , 64 , 81 ] • Spirituality, integrity, equity and justice [ 40 , 64 ] • Relationships [ 28 , 40 , 64 , 80 ] • Research designs are to include the principles of confidentiality, protection of human subjects’ dignity and safety, maximize efficiency, transparency, accountability, fair open and responsible conduct.…”

“…Leaders of the extended family or communities can anticipate the risks and benefits as persons and as a group in the community before granting informed consent in research [ 77 ]. It is recommended that informed consent is to be sought from both individual participants and the local community [ 32 , 54 ] because the individual is an intrinsic part of the extended family and the community and they are the owners of cultural knowledge that is set within a collective structure [ 93 ]. An individual within this community setting does not have the autonomous authority to grant permission through an individual consent process to share and communicate cultural knowledge [ 93 ].…”

“…Western paradigms are associated with expert knowledge while indigenous paradigms are associated with “lay knowledge” [ 54 ]. Western ideas adopted in research methodologies cannot be applied to the understanding of Pacific Island culture [ 25 , 27 , 54 , 60 ]. A good example is a study proposed by Meo Sewabu in Fiji to involve people with whom she has an existing relationship [ 54 ].…”

Indigenous entrepreneurship on customary land in the Pacific: Measuring sustainability

“…One thing we might do during the remainder of the research project is to work with a 'cultural discernment group' when doing field research on indigenous businesses. A cultural Regina Scheyvens, Glenn Banks, Litea Meo-Sewabu and Tracy Decena discernment group includes people with intimate cultural knowledge who can guide researchers to ensure the research occurs appropriately within cultural boundaries (Meo-Sewabu, 2014). This could include advising on appropriate ways of asking questions, or on how to reframe questions so that they are not too confrontational.…”