Ethical concerns in research on urbanisation: perspectives from the Global South

In this session Neha Sami -Associate Dean, School of Environment and Sustainability, and Senior Lead, Academics & Research, Indian Institute for Human Settlements- talks about the need to build a collaborative research agenda when carrying out work in the Global South.

This discussion is one of eleven sessions hosted by COPE during Publication Integrity Week 2023.

Collaborative research agenda

Focusing on urban studies because of the urgency of the questions addressed in this field, she notes the dangers of reliance on funding from outside the country. Doing so can lead to a replication of western methods and researchers attributing value to outputs which may be inaccessible to audiences in the country being studied. Instead, partnerships should be framed as equitable and collaborative from the outset, with outcomes and research questions developed together. Writing should be done collectively, bearing in mind who it is for, how it can be accessed, and what language will be most appropriate for wider communication.

Equitable access to research

Accessibility to research outputs can be enhanced not only via fee waivers and discounts, but also through events and panels hosted by organisations like COPE, or by journals. It can be helpful for publishers to provide printed copies of articles in places where digital access is not available, and to think beyond publications as valid forms of dissemination. The Indian Institute for Human Settlements is an example of an institution that positions itself as a knowledge centre, supporting people in accessing research outside their own language. Artificial intelligence may be a useful tool in helping people to access networks in English or other languages. More journals based in southern countries would be welcome, but this is difficult as they must compete with well-established publications. Overall, researchers should think about and promote equitable ways to frame and communicate research in ways that inform and empower all those directly involved.