Research Guidelines

All research on AUREA’s research resources page is vetted for quality by internal team member reviewers.

While it is important to uphold a consistent standard for research quality, it is well known that many academic regulations and standards are inherently oppressive. As such, research conducted informally by individuals in the community is also considered.

Both quantitative and qualitative research (as well as mixed-method research), of any method, are considered legitimate research. Studies that are purely descriptive or theoretical as well as those that try to draw inferences both count as research. This is to be inclusive of non-Western methodologies that have historically been excluded from academia (e.g., studies informed by traditional Indigenous methods and principles, community-based action research, iterative and cyclical methodologies, narrative-based methods, etc.).

Our quality standards for peer-reviewed and academic research are more rigorous than those for community-based research, but we consistently look for the following indicators of quality:

  • Investigators have prior research experience

  • Investigators have obtained consent from participants (e.g., through an ethics statement, informed consent)

  • Methods (e.g., participant recruitment, procedures involved in the research, data privacy) are transparent

  • Analyses and interpretations are fair (e.g., conclusions are based only on the data given and do not jump to conclusions, data visualization is not exaggerated)

  • Assumptions and limitations are explicitly stated

  • Information about aromanticism is accurate

AUREA does not promote research undertaken by exclusionist or bigoted individuals, as this could contribute to further erasure and demonization of aromanticism.

In some cases, AUREA may boost community surveys undertaken by individuals that do not quite meet quality standards because they miss a key feature but nevertheless have merit. This is done on a case by case basis and accompanied by a note explaining the decision.

If you have any questions about our internal policy or feedback about what is included in our research page, let us know.