Ethical Considerations for Data Collection and Sharing: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Principles
A suite of general principles for ethical consultation and engagement are widely recognized, regardless of the setting (e.g., research, assessment):
- Honesty
- Trust
- Fairness
- Respect
- Responsibility
Unethical or irresponsible processes violate these core principles. Examples of unethical data collection and sharing might include:
- Recording or capturing data/information through means of deception
- For example, certain forms of ethnographic research with Indigenous communities in the absence of full consent would be considered unethical
- Improperly altering or otherwise changing information and data
- Plagiarism or data/information without attribution
- Using confidential data/information without consent
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Ethical considerations in data collection and sharing include transparency and opportunity for all groups (see also Module 1). However opportunities or equity in opportunity may differ between stakeholders and rights holders. Broad-based engagement processes should be designed to consider different rights (e.g., inclusive rights vs sovereign rights) as well as equity-deserving groups.
Depending on the engagement context, sovereign rights groups can include (but are not limited to):
- Indigenous groups in the land we now know as Canada, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities (e.g., sovereign nations with inherent rights)
- Two-spirit peoples as part of Indigenous communities
- Any intersection of these identities
Depending on the engagement context, equity deserving groups can include (but are not limited to):
- Women
- Racialized peoples or people who identify as members of a racialized community
- Members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities
- People living with disabilities
- Individuals or groups who exercise cultural and/or religious practices
- Indigenous groups in the land we now know as Canada, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, who are sovereign nations with inherent rights
- Any intersection of these identities