COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality have disproportionately affected communities of colour across the United States. Originally dubbed the ‘great equalizer’, many individuals believed that COVID-19 affected everyone equally (Gupta, 2020). However, COVID-19 has exposed ethnic and racial differences in morbidity and mortality (Yaya et al, 2020). Early data showed that African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans were more likely to grow ill and die from COVID-19 than White Americans (Bassett et al, 2020). As data continues to emerge, it is evident that communities of colour bear a disproportionate burden of COVID-19. Thus, relevant COVID-19 data must be viewed as a foundation for conducting health disparities research.Health disparities research identifies groups that receive inequitable access to care, treatment and resources (Chan et al, 2018). This research is necessary because it offers an in-depth understanding of the demographic framework (for example, race, ethnicity, gender, age, socioeconomic status, marital status and ability status) for addressing COVID-19 (Chan et al, 2018). Zastrow and Kirst-Ashman (2010) posited that academic researchers should encompass cultural competence and cultural sensitivity when investigating the behaviour and social environment of specific groups. See (2007) suggested that Eurocentric research may generate a misunderstanding of the issues that communities of colour face in light of COVID-19. Therefore, establishing multicultural and multidisciplinary research teams with an inherent understanding of health disparities is paramount to understanding communities of colour.
As researchers continue to adapt, conduct and design their research in the presence of COVID-19, new opportunities to connect research creativity and ethics have opened up. Researchers around the world have responded in diverse, thoughtful and creative ways–adapting data collection methods, fostering researcher and community resilience, and exploring creative research methods.This book, part of a series of three Rapid Responses, explores dimensions of creativity and ethics, highlighting their connectedness. It has three parts: the first covers creative approaches to researching. The second considers concerns around research ethics and ethics more generally, and the final part addresses different ways of approaching creativity and ethics through collaboration and co-creation.The other two books focus on Response and Reassessment, and Care and Resilience. Together they help academic, applied and practitioner-researchers worldwide adapt to the new challenges COVID-19 brings.Part of a series of three, this book explores dimensions of creativity and ethics. It has three parts: the first covers creative approaches to researching. The second considers concerns around research ethics and ethics more generally, and the final part addresses different ways of approaching creativity and ethics through collaboration.