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Ethical Issues in Applied Linguistics Scholarship
Edited by Peter I. De Costa, Amr Rabie-Ahmed and Carlo Cinaglia
[Research Methods in Applied Linguistics 7] 2024
► pp. 156–172

Chapter 9
Ethics in heritage language education

Negotiating ethical research practices with heritage speakers and their communities

| Michigan State University
In this chapter, I explore ethical considerations for conducting Applied Linguistics research on heritage speakers and offer recommendations for building understanding and commitment to ethically-informed practices when working with heritage communities. First, I discuss the ethical questions that arise in each stage of research development, keeping in mind the great diversity within and across heritage communities and the particular importance of ethical awareness that must go beyond traditional principles of research ethics. These include stages relating to definitions and terminology, research objectives, participant recruitment and inclusion criteria, data collection, and dissemination of results. Next, I provide specific examples of the ethical challenges I have faced in my own work, particularly relating to cultural, linguistic, and sociopolitical factors, when weighing the risks and benefits of various research decisions, and I expand on the steps taken to resolve each issue. I close the chapter with a reflection on the core ethical tensions that may arise for in-group and out-group researchers when working with heritage participants and make suggestions for scholars who intend to adopt practices that are ethically sound and appropriate for working with heritage speakers and their communities.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Considering ethical issues during HLE research
    • Pre-study considerations to ensure ethical outcomes
    • Ethical considerations during study design and procedures
    • Post-study considerations in HLE research
  • Examples of personal ethical challenges
  • Reflection on core tensions and final suggestions
  • References
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
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