Research burnout is a real problem for marginalised communities

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are among the most researched people in the world. Small, and often marginalised, communities around the world are the subjects of a disproportionate amount of research. And some people are getting tired of it.

Despite good intentions, translating research into tangible benefits for the subjects of that research remains a challenge (which is a conversation for another day). When benefits fail to materialise, communities unsurprisingly become reluctant to participate in further research. This, in turn, renders their experiences even less visible and understood.

This phenomenon is well known and goes by the name of ‘research fatigue’. This article over at Wired explorers research fatigue through the lens of First Nations and trans participants.

“When the Nipissing Nation started a new fishing program on their reserve, the lead in their fisheries department [said] that he was beset by interview requests in which the researchers were asking the same questions over and over again. [He was] frustrated that so much of his time was being consumed with repetitive requests that conferred no value to their community.”

It’s a useful reminder for researchers working in these spaces: where people are willing to participate, researchers have a responsibility to behave ethically and respectfully. Participants should have control over the direction of the research, and the final outputs, and their time should be treated as valuable. Where people are not willing to participate, that’s fine too.