Ethical and Methodological Challenges in Action Research on Homelessness Services

• Action research has another objective than dominating concepts in social science research – where the research aspects of the study are emphasized rather than creating change, and where objectivity, neutrality and avoidance of bias are important notions in the research process. The action research approach also means that the researchers will cooperate with various actors, such as social workers and service users. This collaboration poses ethical and methodological challenges that are not as explicitly relevant to conventional social science research. One example of an ethical challenge is the questions about confidentiality in the activities being investigated. Methodological challenges can, for example, entail that researchers, social workers and service users havedifferent expectations and views on how the research should be conducted and how the activities should be developed. Another challenge is that, although it is often the practitioners that take the initiative and invite the researchers into action research projects, the researchers often have greater influence on the research design. The aim of this paper is to examine, analyze and reflect on how social workers and service users view their involvement in a research project to develop homelessness work in the city of Helsingborg in Sweden. A substantial conclusion is that it is of great importance to maintain a continuous dialogue between service users, social workers and researchers, not least to support the service users and the social workers in their role as peer researchers. The project was carried out in 2014 to 2017 and its purpose was to improve the social housing program in Helsingborg byimplementing core principles and core elements from the Housing first philosophy.

• Action research has another objective than dominating concepts in social science research – where the research aspects of the study are emphasized rather than creating change, and where objectivity, neutrality and avoidance of bias are important notions in the research process. The action research approach also means that the researchers will cooperate with various actors, such as social workers and service users. This collaboration poses ethical and methodological challenges that are not as explicitly relevant to conventional social science research. One example of an ethical challenge is the questions about confidentiality in the activities being investigated. Methodological challenges can, for example, entail that researchers, social workers and service users have different expectations and views on how the research should be conducted and how the activities should be developed. Another challenge is that, although it is often the practitioners that take the initiative and invite the researchers into action research projects, the researchers often have greater influence on the research design. The aim of this paper is to examine, analyze and reflect on how social workers and service users view their involvement in a research project to develop homelessness work in the city of Helsingborg in Sweden. A substantial conclusion is that it is of great importance to maintain a continuous dialogue between service users, social workers and researchers, not least to support the service users and the social workers in their role as peer researchers. The project was carried out in 2014 to 2017 and its purpose was to improve the social housing program in Helsingborg by implementing core principles and core elements from the Housing first philosophy.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Sociologi -- Socialt arbete (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Sociology -- Social Work (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Forskningsetik

Hemlöshet

aktionsforskning

Publication and Content Type

kon (subject category)

ref (subject category)