issue 1 09 - APS Member Groups - Australian Psychological Society

Accessing Authentic Knowledge45participants involved (without the satcheltossed over one’s shoulder). There is aninherent value in being able to meet thesepeople on their terms in both time and placerather than from territory of the often morepowerful positions and perspectives that wecommand and enjoy.DoingThere are many ways of conducting anddisseminating research. It is argued here thatthe doing of refugee-related research inresettlement contexts should endeavour wherepossible to areas of reciprocity. AsMackenzie, McDowell & Pittaway (2007)argue, refugee-related research should aspirebeyond harm minimisation as a standard forethical research and try to achieve reciprocalbenefits to both the researcher and theresearched. Indeed, there were many times the‘official’ research was put on hold to helpsomeone with their taxes, driving them places,informing them about what house inspectionsentailed and connecting them to tutors for theirrespective academic courses. One man askedwhat it meant that he had just ‘won’ $500,000from Readers Digest. Another wanted to knowif he was in trouble because he had beenselected for jury duty. Because my previousrole as a social worker included counsellingrefugees and also organising an annualactivities summer program for refugee children(see Hallahan & Irizarry, 2008), a nascentreputation and rapport within this communityhad already been established. This reciprocityof doing over time showed a commitmentbeyond a complete self directed and singularinterest in obtaining a PhD.Collaborative research requires acommitment towards doing and a sincereengagement with process that may need to stepoutside the researcher’s initially establishedtimelines and scheduled milestones.Acknowledging the unanticipated twists andturns of collaborative processes, the researchquestion becomes further grounded within anecological perspective that considers a broaderfocus upon the person in environment andcontext (see Rappaport, 1977). Suchperspectives can help facilitate moresophisticated and reciprocal forms of researchand action.Bringing the two togetherTo further comprehend the profundity ofresettling peoples’ lived experience, there is agreater call for research methodologies thatallow for these people to have collaborativeroles in research and action. Inherent withinthis framework includes a level of communityengagement that goes beyond what mightinitially be seen as the research agenda. Thisimmersion though, will help shape and fashionthe research question by rendering it in a waythat will likely have higher resonance withthose who inform it. Guerin & Guerin (2007)discuss their experience of working with theSomali community over several years in NewZealand stating, “Many times we felt like ourresearch was going around in a circle, but moreoften, we found that the research was on aspiral, still going around in circles, butprogressing for the better” (p.150). Visualisingthe research and consultation process beyondthe perspective of a two dimensional circle tothree dimensions shows the complex layeringand necessary journey towards furtherunderstanding resettling populations (Ghorashi,2008). While this spiralling process continues,it will become apparent that the reciprocity ofdoing and active engagement with thecommunity provides a higher likelihood ofgaining access to the more authentic backstageresponses.As deeper levels of access are granted, itis important to recognise the politics of memoryand research. Being with these people can helpovercome many potential obstacles in thespiralling journey as the foundations of rapportcreate greater spaces of trust and safety.However, research with such groups of peopleoften marginalised and pushed to theperipheries of society is not a neutral exercise.And nor should it be. The person is politicaland as professionals involved in research,interpersonal practice, community engagementThe Australian Community Psychologist Volume 21 No 1 June 2009