Human impact and ethics: KS5

Introductory techniques

Ask pupils to consider the following scenarios. Do they have enough information to decide whether or not the fieldwork is ethical? What needs to be done to make the fieldwork more ethical? Do they think the fieldwork should go ahead?

Scenario 1: Surveying homeless populations in urban areas
Pupils plan to conduct interviews with homeless individuals in the city centre to understand patterns of homelessness and access to services.
Scenario 2: Investigating river pollution by collecting water samples
Pupils intend to collect water samples from a local river, including areas on private farmland, to analyse pollution levels.
Scenario 3: Observing schoolchildren’s playground behaviour
A fieldwork project involves observing and recording the behaviour of primary school children during break times to study spatial use of playgrounds.
Scenario 4: Questionnaires to investigate immigration
Pupils distribute questionnaires about attitudes towards immigration in a small, close-knit village.
Scenario 5: Measuring footpath erosion
The class plans to measure footpath erosion in a protected nature reserve by walking off designated paths to take measurements.

Techniques to assess human impact and ethics

Look at the diagram below which shows 12 dimensions of cultural, social and environmental ethics which need to be considered when carrying out ethical geography fieldwork.

Firstly, ask pupils to categorise each factor into cultural, social and environmental so that they appreciate that ethical considerations are multi-dimensional. Then, for a piece of fieldwork they are planning or that they are about to undertake, ask them to score the extent that they will need to consider each ethical dimension from 1 to 10 (1 = not applicable to my fieldwork; 10 = highly applicable to my fieldwork).

This is because some of the cultural considerations e.g. learn local language, may be less applicable if they are doing fieldwork within their own country. In the space in each sector, they should write down the actions that they will take under each heading in order to make their fieldwork as ethical as possible.

At university level, any fieldwork that involves humans has to go through an ethics panel. Ask pupils to work in pairs. One should answer the following questions in relation to the fieldwork that they are about to undertake – they can use their ethics wheel to help them – and the other person should represent the ethics panel.

The ethics panel can ask the pupil any clarifying questions and should decide at the end, whether or not the fieldwork should go ahead or if any adjustments need to be made before this happens.

Does the research involve vulnerable participants?
This includes children, the elderly, people with disabilities, or others who may be at increased risk due to age, marginalisation, or power imbalances.
Will the research involve children or young people under the age of 18?
If so, additional safeguards and justifications are required.
Does the study involve asking questions that might be emotional or distressing?
Panels will want to see how you will minimise harm and support participants if sensitive topics are discussed.
Who are your participants and how will they be recruited?
You must describe inclusion / exclusion criteria and recruitment methods, including whether you will use a gatekeeper (someone who controls access to participants), and consider if this affects voluntary participation.
Will participants receive any incentives or payments?
You need to justify any incentives and consider if they might unduly influence participation.
How will you inform participants about the study and record consent?
Panels require details on how you will provide information, obtain informed consent, and protect participant autonomy. Supporting documents, such as consent forms and participant information sheets, are usually required.
How will you handle personal data and ensure privacy?
The panel will ask how data will be stored, anonymised, and protected, and whether it complies with data protection laws.
Does your research involve any risk of harm to participants, the environment, or the researcher?
You must identify potential risks and describe how you will mitigate them.
Will the fieldwork take place on private property or involve international sites?
You may be asked about permissions and local ethical considerations.