Research Ethics: Cross Cultural Perspective of Research Ethics in Southeast Asia

Cross cultural perspective of research ethics in Southeast Asia is important in the brave new world of post colonial migration studies where border and boundary issues abound. Indeed, the boundary position of the outsider, or the intellectual at the margins made famous by Said (1994) is often that of the Western researcher conducting humanitarian research with chronically oppressed, disadvantaged populations in Southeast Asia. Interest in cross cultural perspective of research ethics developed from research into the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with migrants from Burma in Thailand (Authors names, 2009a 2009b). This paper deals with: issues encountered by researchers as they seek approval from Western ethics committees prior to conducting research; the ethical review process of ASEAN countries; the ethical involvement of interpreters in cross-cultural research; and the impact of interpreters on informed consent, data collection and analysis. The latter part of the paper contains discussion for improved Human Research Ethics Committees' deliberations and recommendations for good practice; educational implications and future research.