Assyrian Ethical Research Council
Well-intentioned research can still have unintended negative consequences if the researcher fails to adequately understand and consider the needs, perspectives, and potential vulnerabilities of their research participants. This underscores the importance of conducting research with cultural sensitivity and ethical rigor.
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It is evident that historical and contemporary research on Assyrians has caused harm by presenting a distorted and misleading picture, misused data, and negatively impacted participants. This is due, in part, to a lack of collaboration with Assyrians themselves and a failure to consider the ethical implications of research on Indigenous nations and communities.
Addressing Ethical Concerns
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Informed Consent: Obtaining informed consent from participants, ensuring they understand the risks and benefits of the research.
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Data Privacy: Adhering to data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, IRBs, HIPAA, Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, or equivalent) to safeguard personal data.
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Risk Assessment: Conducting a thorough risk assessment to identify potential harms and develop strategies to mitigate them.
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Ethical Approval: Seeking ethical approval from relevant institutions to ensure the research adheres to ethical guidelines.
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Participant Well-being: Prioritizing the well-being of participants throughout the research process, including providing support and counseling if needed.
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Community Engagement: Collaborating with the Assyrian community to ensure that research is conducted in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner.
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The Assyrian Studies Association (ASA) is committed to promoting ethical research on Assyrians. We offer support to researchers by:
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Providing ethical guidance: Offering advice on research design, data collection, and analysis.
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Facilitating collaboration: Connecting researchers with community members to foster meaningful partnerships.
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Feedback: Providing feedback on the ethical implications of research projects.
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Advocating for ethical research practices: Raising awareness about the importance of ethical research in the field of Assyrian Studies.
Feedback
To receive feedback from the ASA Ethics Council, please submit the following information (maximum 2 pages):
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Researcher's name, affiliation, and contact information
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Project title and funding source
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Research questions and objectives
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Methodology (e.g., interviews, surveys, archival research)
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Participant recruitment and consent procedures
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Data collection and storage methods
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Data analysis and interpretation methods
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Potential risks, how to mitigate risks, and benefits to participants
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Plans for data dissemination and publication
Team
Önver Cetrez
Professor, Uppsala University, Sweden
Sargon Donabed
Professor, Roger Williams University, US
Mariam Georgis
Assist. Professor, Simon Fraser University, Canada
Arbella Issa
M.A. from San Francisco State University, US
