Power, responsibility, and justice in research with Indigenous communities

Abstract

Cultural context is necessary for students to build connections and conduct responsible research on their Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP), especially with regards to Indigenous communities, and this is not adequately provided in the current preparation phase of the IQP. To supplement existing resources, we created the Just IQP Research website for ethical partnership with Māori communities, using insights from our research including interviews with past IQP students, advisors, and scholars in New Zealand who have collaborated with the Indigenous Māori population. The website, wp.wpi.edu/justiqpresearch, focuses on 6 key concepts that emerged from our research: culture and history, language, reflection, discomfort, ethical listening, and accountability