First Do No Harm: Cultural and Ethical Impacts of User Studies

What is it about?

This paper discusses the cultural and ethical impacts of user studies – specifically when working with wearable devices. The head, for example, is largely considered one of the most tapu (sacred) parts of the human body in te ao Māori. This statement is also true of the hair. This paper outlines a study using EEG sensors that are placed on participants’ heads. In this paper, we stress that in studies such as this, it is important to pay particular consideration to our Māori participants, as careless treatment around the tapu of the head and hair may instill trepidation around participating in such studies. This paper proactively identifies and highlights cultural and ethical considerations in the context of Māori with the hope that it can assist a broader international audience to consider the implications of the work they are engaged in and whether it is culturally considerate and informed.

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Photo by Aleza van der Werff on Unsplash

Photo by Aleza van der Werff on Unsplash