Lesotho Case:
Lesotho is a small developing country contained within South Africa. You and your team of academic researchers (10 in all) are spending the next two weeks traveling to different communities throughout Lesotho to test water sources for disease-causing pathogens. The testing you need to do is simple but requires significant assistance from the community – showing your team all the different locations where individuals get their water from, and places/methods for storing the water. You do not see the need to pay the community members, considering if someone asked you about your water source, you would not mind driving them up to the lake! The ultimate goal of the project is to understand the lifecycle and characteristics of a specific pathogen, which is found only in this region of Lesotho. Several publications are expected from this research study. A comprehensive profile of this pathogen can help in many ways including the development of chemical additives to make the water safe to drink. Is it ethical to conduct this research study? What will you do next?
Step 1: Determine the facts in the situation
10 researchers there for 2 weeks
publications expected
academic research
community members not being paid
pathogen in the water
multiple places to get water sources
multiple methods of collection/storage
there is promise of solution
central, district, and local government
coliforms and ecoli
ethical issue(s):
not paying
no known solution: could potentially improve quality of life
who owns the water? can it be monetized?
Step 2: Define the Stakeholders
the community members
the government
the researchers
the research funders
the solution preparers
Step 3: Assess the motivations of the Stakeholders
the community members: motivated by health/better quality of life
the government: (Lethoso and South Africa)
political capital, economic growth
the researchers: desire for success, meet research goals, income
the research funders: publications
the solution preparers: business
Step 4: Formulate (at least 3) alternative solutions
Solution 1: long term utilitarian: do the research, pay community members
Solution 2: duty-based: don’t pay the community members
Solution 3: virtue-based: find the water sources yourself or don’t do the research
Step 5: Seek additional assistance
We asked Khanjan for advice and he would pay them
Step 6: Select the best course of action
Solution 1: Do the research and pay community members (Leverage community hierarchies to find the most appropriate community helpers. Pay them the working wage)
Pros: you get the research done efficiently
Cons: you need a larger budget
Step 7: What are the implications of your solution on the venture?
Assistance from the community will help get the research done more efficiently
What can the community gain? Possible solution to pathogen in their water from the research
What are the risks? The community might reject your study (for whatever reason) and refuse to show you the water sources. Relying solely on the community for access to the water can be unpredictable.
Ultimately, this is fair and ethical to carry out. I see no issue with paying the community members for their time/help and doing the research.