Ethics of Researching Elites
What are the ethics of researching people in power? Dr Pere Ayling explores studying elites in Nigeria and how class, race and gender shape privilege and inequality.
Research ethics typically focuses on how to avoid harm when working with vulnerable individuals and groups. But what are the ethical implications involved when ‘studying up’ (Laura Nader, 1972)? In this episode, Dr Pere Ayling shares her experience and expertise on the ethical implications of researching elites in Nigeria and challenging norms around “insider” and “outsider” positions in ethnographic research with elites.
Dr Pere Ayling is Senior Lecturer at the University of Suffolk’s School of Social Sciences and Humanities. Her research focuses on how class, gender and race as well as dis/abilities intersect to reproduce ‘privilege’ and ‘inequality’ in education and society overall. It has received international attention including invites to speak at in the UK, Thailand, Spain and the USA among others.
Recommended Reading:
- Ayling, P. (2019) Distinction, Exclusivity and Whiteness: Elite Nigerian Parents and the International Education Market. Springer.
- Lillie, K, and Ayling, P. (2020) Revisiting the un/ethical: the complex ethics of elite studies research, Qualitative Research, p1–16.
- Nader, L. (1972). Up the anthropologist: Perspectives gained from studying up. In D. Hymes (Ed.), Reinventing anthropology (pp. 284–311). Pantheon Books.
Credits
- Host: Hannah Redman (PhD Candidate at the University of Sheffield)
- Guest: Dr Pere Ayling (Senior Lecturer in Early Years at the University of Suffolk)
- Producer and Editor: Hannah Redman
- Producer and Editor: AC Davidson (Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Sheffield)
- Producer and Editor: Nabeela Ahmed (Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Sheffield)
- Music: (freesoundproject - ‘Night sessions (Piano and Bass)’ by elaineaeris)
