Ethics of collaboration in transformative research for sustainable futures
The article explores the ethical challenges faced by researchers engaging in transformative research, which seeks to challenge dominant structures and drive sustainability transitions through collaboration with societal actors. Traditional institutional ethical standards, largely derived from medical ethics, fail to provide adequate guidance for researchers navigating complex social dynamics, power imbalances, and normative decision-making.
Using a collaborative autoethnographic approach, the authors reflect on their own ethical dilemmas, such as who decides what constitutes “good” research, whose knowledge is prioritized, and how to balance research objectivity with activist engagement. They argue that formal ethical guidelines alone are insufficient and must be complemented by practical wisdom, which is developed through situated reflexivity—a continuous process of questioning values, assumptions, and power relations in research collaborations.
The study proposes that ethics in transformative research should be approached dynamically, allowing for adaptation to specific contexts. Researchers should engage in critical reflection both individually and collectively to navigate ethical complexities effectively. Ultimately, the article calls for a rethinking of ethical frameworks to better support action-oriented, justice-driven, and participatory research in sustainability transitions.
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