Practical and Ethical Challenges in Researching the Integration of Ukrainian Refugees in Secondary Cities: Insights from Non-WEIRD Contexts
The integration of refugees presents complex challenges, particularly in non-WEIRD contexts. This talk examines the practical and ethical challenges of researching Ukrainian refugee integration in secondary cities of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), including Košice, Miskolc, Poznań, Kraków, Brno, and Uzhhorod. These cities are transitioning from historically migrant-sending regions to more permanent refugee destinations.
Researching in non-WEIRD settings, especially with vulnerable populations, requires a context-sensitive approach. In regions with limited institutional oversight, safeguarding welfare, obtaining informed consent, and ensuring confidentiality are critical. The study highlights the importance of considering local cultural norms and resource limitations.
The talk also emphasizes the need to involve refugees as active collaborators, ensuring their voices inform meaningful change.
Keywords: Ukrainian refugees, secondary cities, CEE, ethical and practical considerations
Funding: Supported by the International Visegrad Fund (#22330013) and the Slovak Academy of Sciences Postdoctoral Grant Program "PostdokGrant" No. APD0061.