Evaluating ICT for Education in Africa - Royal Holloway, University of ...

continually reflecting on process in order to decide the most appropriate wayto proceed (Miller and Bell 2002). This in turn is dependent upon a criticalapplication regarding what is good and bad in a particular context rather thanan abstract theory of what is right and what is wrong (Geuss 1981, Hay 1998),As Birch states, „principles guide our perceptions of how to conduct ethicalresearch and yet ultimately, specific circumstances and contexts inform ourdecisions‟ (Birch et al. 2002 p.6).In recognition of the above, and desiring to operate in a value-based, flexiblemanner, a framework was developed which would ensure constantengagement with the ethical integrity of the research, based on the convictionthat conducting dynamic ethical research is dependent upon an enlivenedmoral imagination and empowerment to illuminate issues and apply creativeand critical thinking within them (Hay 1998). This should be combined witha focus on justice, not standing alone but informed by and incorporated intoan ethic of care (Edwards and Mauthner 2002). Justice and care arepromoted through an intentional focus on appropriate and non-exploitativeusage of power, recognising that power differentials always exist within socialinteractions and must be constantly addressed and subverted. This is linkedwith the rationale for the overall approach adopted in monitoring andevaluation throughout the research. Hence, a participative and trustingmodel of monitoring and evaluation should be adopted, which values theinherent worth of the subject of development. Monitoring methods cantherefore be employed as aids to enhance the freedom of the subject as partof the development and education objective to promote autonomy and selfdetermination(George 2008).In the light of this, the following guidelines constituted a practical plumb-linefor all my research decisions and conduct in the field and facilitated theprocess of constant internal analysis and reflection:Consider local specificity, flexibility and innovation as opposed touniversally applicable procedures (Chambers 2005, Horton and Kraftl2006).112