‘How much do we need to know?’ On the Ethical implications of Operational Research in Humanitarian Settings

Abstract

International Non-governmental Organisations (INGOs) have long conducted operational research (OR), a mode of
investigation that follows specific rationale and criteria. In the present work, I draw on my experience of conducting a
survey with Central-American migrants in Mexico in the context of a humanitarian organisation to outline some of the
particularities of operational research and examine the ethical dilemmas that arise from this modality of investigation. By
centring my analysis on a question often posed by colleagues– ‘how much do we need to know?’ - I explore three interrelated
topics. First, I look at the process of obtaining consent, reflecting on the organisation’s dual role as both healthcare provider
and researcher. Next, I examine how research questions are defined and in relation to whose interests. Lastly, I discuss
the definition of survey categories, examining how OR often contributes to framing migrants’ experiences according to predetermined narratives of victimhood.