SPEaR Good Practice Guidelines 2008: Research and evaluation involving Pacific Peoples
Applying the Principle of Reciprocity to research and evaluation involving Pacific Peoples
To ensure their relationships with Pacific Peoples as research partners and participants are reciprocal, officials should:
- Ensure research has benefits for participants, communities, other stakeholders, and researchers.
- Be aware that there are many demands on the time of those Pacific People with research expertise and that their numbers are growing slowly. Consider ways in which those with more experience can 'mentor' emerging Pacific researchers.
- Be aware that many Pacific communities in this country have experience with historical research and that these experiences may not have been positive. Pacific Peoples as prospective participants, organisations or communities can say NO at any stage of the research process and this must be respected.
- Ensure that the information provided to potential Pacific Peoples participants during all phases of the project includes all relevant information, including information expressly sought by participants, and that the language/s and tone of the communication is appropriate and relevant.
- Be willing to engage with potential Pacific Peoples participants at times and in forums of their choosing.
- Use the consultation process to identify any information and research requirements of participating Pacific Peoples organisations, and (where possible) incorporate these requirements into the research design.
- Identify via negotiation with Pacific Peoples participants, the appropriate processes and formats for the dissemination of research and evaluation results and actually do this.
Appropriate and meaningful dissemination processes for participants, communities and key stakeholders can include community presentations, media outlets such as Pacific Radio and Television programmes, newspapers and newsletters, Pacific Journals, seminars, conferences, and e-mails to key networks.
