Opportunities, challenges and ethical considerations as insider-researcher for a community-based research in redressing livelihood sustainability issues

The thought about taking an ethical view-point to this research has emanated from the researcher's journey in preparing for a baseline survey of residents in Goderich using the Community-Based Research Participation (CBRP) approach to investigating concerns pertaining to sustainable livelihood needs. In as much as the overarching focus of the research is aimed at meaningful contribution to the body of knowledge, it was worth the effort in journeying through this phronetic / ethical exploration, which is not so common in research engagements carried out in developing countries like Sierra Leone. The role of the researcher as an insider was thoroughly explored, with the view of openness raised as the preferred option as a way of eliciting unbiased outcomes from participants and also, removing power domination, most often witnessed in researcher-participants relation with most research undertakings.