Further Reading

Further reading links to supplement your studies.

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  • A very good place to start is Iain Hay’s (2013) comprehensive review of geography and ethics. This offers an overview of practical and philosophical engagements between the two areas, discussing useful reference resources, relevant journals, as well as topics such as social and spatial justice, geographies of care, postcolonial and cosmopolitan ethics, as well as professional and research ethics. It is especially useful if you have an interest in exploring ethical issues broader than those covered in this chapter.
    Hay, I. (2013) ‘Geography and ethics’, in B. Warf (ed.) Oxford Bibliographies in Geography. New York: Oxford University Press, Available: http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/

     
  • Dowling (2016) provides a helpful introduction to some central ethical issues in geographical research (e.g. harm, consent) and makes a case for critical reflexivity (i.e. ongoing, self-conscious scrutiny of oneself as researcher and of the research process).
    Dowling, R. (2016) ‘Power, subjectivity and ethics in qualitative research’, in I. Hay (ed.) Qualitative Research Methods in Human Geography (4th edn). Toronto: Oxford University Press, pp. 29–44.
  • Israel and Hay (2006) and Israel (2015) elaborate fully and clearly on some of the ideas set out in this chapter.
    Israel, M. and Hay, I. (2006) Research Ethics for Social Scientists: Between Ethical Conduct and Regulatory Compliance. London: Sage. Israel, M. (2015) Research Ethics and Integrity for Social Scientists (2nd edn). London: Sage.

  • Richie Howitt’s (2005) paper on ethics and cross-cultural engagement in work with Australian Indigenous people is very helpful. Another challenging but deeply engaging chapter examining issues in cross-cultural research ethics and relationships is that by Howitt and Stevens (2016) – who have vast experience working with Indigenous peoples in Australia and Chomolungma (Mountt Everest) respectively.
    Howitt, R. (2005) ‘The importance of process in Social Impact Assessment: ethics, methods and process for cross-cultural engagement’, Ethics, Place and Environment, 8: 209–221.

     
  • Mitchell and Draper (1982) is a classic reference for geographers interested in issues of relevance and research ethics. Though dated, this volume is well worth a read.
    Mitchell, B. and Draper, D. (1982) Relevance and Ethics in Geography. London: Longman.

     
  • Scheyvens and Leslie (2000) is a helpful article exploring ethical dimensions of power, gender and representation in overseas fieldwork. It is illustrated by several examples drawn from the authors’ fieldwork practice.
    Scheyvens, R. and Leslie, H. (2000) ‘Gender, ethics and empowerment: dilemmas of development fieldwork’, Women’s Studies International Forum, 23: 119–130.

     
  • Daniel A. Griffith’s (2008) paper on ethical considerations in geographical research provides a number of interesting examples of academic misconduct in geography and more broadly. These are used as a foundation for a discussion on the need for ethical education as part of (post)graduate education.
    Griffith, D.A. (2008) ‘Ethical considerations in geographic research: what especially graduate students need to know’, Ethics, Place and Environment, 11: 237
    252.
  • Smith (2000) explores the interface between geography, ethics and morality. At its core is Smith’s longstanding concern with the practice of morality.
    Smith, D.M. (2000) Moral Geographies: Ethics in a World of Difference. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.