Intercultural competences and ethics in scientific research with refugee women: principles and challenges for an inclusive practice

Abstract

The present study examines the importance of intercultural competences in scientific research with refugee women, with a particular emphasis on ethical and methodological frameworks, as well as the challenges involved in fostering inclusive research practices. The primary objective is to explore how developing intercultural competences enhances ethical, inclusive, and culturally sensitive research. A qualitative approach was employed, based on a comprehensive review of the pertinent literature, with a focus on intercultural competence models such as those proposed by Deardorff (2009) and Bennett (2013), whose pedagogical approaches underpin their application in the context of scientific research involving refugee women. Additionally, the study engages with theoretical perspectives on intercultural communication, the intercultural paradigm, intersectionality, and the ethics of representation, thus providing a critical lens through which to scrutinize the dynamics of power and representation. The analysis underscores the indispensable role that cultural adaptation and the development of intercultural competences play in surmounting communication barriers, establishing trust, and avoiding the perpetuation of stereotypes and inequalities. Theoretical models are shown to provide valuable tools for ethical and methodological adaptations in research involving ethnocultural populations, fostering an educational process that emphasizes the recognition and mitigation of power imbalances in researcher-participant interactions. In conclusion, incorporating intercultural competences into scientific research with refugee women is essential to ensuring the quality and relevance of
research outcomes. This approach facilitates more accurate and contextually informed interpretations of
participants’ narratives and contributes to both advancing scientific knowledge and informing the development of well-informed public policies.