Stories of hope or hopeful stories? Reflections on ethical dilemmas in spinal cord injury rehabilitation and physical activity

Ethical considerations in ethnographic research are not something to be ticked off once clearance is granted by the ethics committee. Rather, ethical considerations should remain at the forefront of the researcher’s mind as they face numerous ethical dilemmas throughout the course of a study. Ethics in practice should therefore be considered as a process of on-going maintenance and reflexivity. This paper draws upon the importance of reflexive ethics to highlight how broad procedural ethics considered at the beginning of a research project continue to inform ethical dilemmas as they arise during data collection and analysis. Ethical dilemmas encountered in a physical activity rehabilitation centre for people with spinal cord injury will be reflected upon to offer insights into negotiating the researcher’s desire to gain rich descriptions, whilst caring for the participants’ well-being. These dilemmas will include managing the expectations of the research project and negotiating delicate issues in spinal cord injury rehabilitation such as recovery and hope.