Ethics:

Draft one of my Ethical action plan below:

My existing research practice is grounded in visual research and studio-based inquiry, which often operates at a distance from direct human participation (Sullivan, 2010; Barrett and Bolt, 2014). This form of research typically takes place within books, archives, and visual collections, with references subsequently interpreted and developed privately within studio and practice-based contexts. Within this process, visual research frequently becomes secondary to the final creative outcome.

In contrast, the research methods explored within this module are centred on participants’ lived experiences and the collection of feedback based on personal perspectives. As such, this approach requires a significantly higher level of ethical awareness and care, particularly in relation to consent, data handling, anonymity, and the management of power dynamics. Engaging with this form of research has highlighted the responsibility inherent in working with people rather than objects or texts.

This shift has prompted a broader understanding of research as an ethical and relational process, emphasising the importance of how questions are framed, how participation is invited, and how responses are interpreted.

Below is suggested edits and feedback on my Ethical Action plan:

The final Ethical Action Plan is presented below. Revisions were made to formalise the language and to ensure the document adopts a more academic tone throughout. These edits were informed by feedback provided by John, with particular attention given to reframing the working title as an interrogative research question rather than a purely descriptive account of the project. This decision was informed by the understanding that the way questions are framed significantly influences both the responses generated and the knowledge produced (Payne, 1951). As such, the action plan is positioned within a research-led framework that foregrounds critical inquiry rather than documentation alone.

References:

Barrett, E. and Bolt, B. (2014) Practice as Research: Approaches to Creative Arts Enquiry. London: I.B. Tauris.

Payne, S.L. (1951) The Art of Asking Questions. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.