This is a revised version of the ethical guidelines first published in 2012, with new tools and cases added as an Appendix. These guidelines are designed to support community-based researchers,  research ethics committees and funders in thinking through the ethical challenges that may arise in community-based research and planning and designing research that is inclusive, fair and seeks positive social change. 

There is a guide followed by an appendix

• Community-Based Participatory Research: A Guide to Ethical Principles, 2nd edition (2022)
• Community-Based Participatory Research: A Guide to Ethical Principles, 2nd edition, APPENDIX, toolkits, cases (2022)

Performing ethics: Using participatory theatre to explore ethical issues in Community Based Participatory Research

Drawing on the work of Augusto Boal, Brazilian theatre director, who developed participatory theatre for social change (Theatre of the Oppressed and Forum Theatre), members of the Centre have explored ethical issues in research through acting out real-life scenarios. 

This 24 page booklet offers exercises and games for use in a workshop on ethics in community-based participatory research.

Performing ethics: Using participatory theatre to explore ethical issues in community-based participatory research - our video 

Drawing on the work of Augusto Boal, Brazilian theatre director, who developed participatory theatre for social change (Theatre of the Oppressed and Forum Theatre), members of the Centre have explored ethical issues in research through acting out real-life scenarios. 

This 8-minute film produced by the Centre for Social Justice and  Community Action, Durham University, UK and LGBT Youth NW, Manchester, about communities and universities working together to develop ethical research to accompany the booklet, Performing ethics.

Dilemmas cafés: a guide for facilitators

A dilemmas café involves people coming together to discuss several dilemmas experienced by participants. A dilemma is a choice between alternative courses of action, when it is not clear which is the right one to choose. A dilemmas café may be on any topic, e.g. science, parenting, social work. This guide focuses on ethical dilemmas in community-based participatory research (CBPR). Ethics is about matters of rights, responsibilities, harms and benefits.

Navigating participatory research: A visual guide (2022)

This guide was developed through the Participatory Research Innovation and Learning Labs (PRILL) coordinated by the Centre during 2022. PRILL aimed to build on and map the range of experiences, expertise, aspirations, good practice and challenges for participatory research at Durham; and to create a shared yet diverse space where novel, challenging and complex approaches, methods, and problems could be worked on collaboratively by groups of practising participatory researchers.

Resources for PAR - a 2-page overview of CSJCA resources (2015)

The Centre for Social Justice and Community Action (CSJCA) focuses on research that involves university and community partners working together for socially just change. Topics we have worked on include: asylum seekers’ rights; financial inclusion; racism; community-led heritage and environmental development. We specialise in participatory action research (PAR). In PAR, people who have first-hand experience of the issues being studied play a role in some or all aspects of the process of planning, doing and publicising the research, and putting the findings into practice.

Mapping alternative impact (summary report) (2015)

The way “impact” has been identified and measured by RCUK and REF2014 does not fit well with co-produced/participatory research, and can deter rather than support this important form of knowledge production. This paradox is also present for co-production in other sectors (e.g. social policy, community organisations, the arts and social enterprises).

Mapping alternative impact (full report) (2015)

This report outlines the problems that arise when co-produced/participatory research is evaluated for impact. It describes the limitations of existing concepts and evaluation of impact, and makes recommendations for changes that will better support co-produced research. The report’s main themes and recommendations also have relevance to other forms of co-production, and also to delivering impact through research that has not been co-produced.

Coinquiry Toolkit (2011)

There is not one way to do co-inquiry research, however, the approach does have some core components that are common in community-university participatory research partnerships. These components are detailed within this toolkit and are a good starting point for anyone interested in embarking on a co-inquiry research partnership. The toolkit was compiled by Andrea Armstrong and Sarah Banks (Durham University) for Beacon North East.

Beacon North East (2011) Co-inquiry toolkit. Community-university participatory research partnerships: co-inquiry and related approaches. Newcastle, Beacon North East.

Participatory Action Research Toolkit (2012)

This toolkit is intended to provide guidance on what a PAR project commonly looks like, how to work together and some questions to ask as you go. It does not provide advice on methods, as these will vary depending on what the research is about. There are many sources available for methods to use within a PAR research approach.

Pain, R. Whitman, G. Milledge, D. and Lune Rivers Trust (2012) Participatory action research toolkit: an introduction to using PAR as an approach to learning, research and action, Durham University/RELU/Lune Rivers Trust

Community Toolkit: a guide to working with universities on research projects (2012)

This guide was written by members of Thrive, a community organisation based in Thornaby-on-Tees. It is based on their experience of engaging and working with staff and students of Durham University. We hope that it will offer some guidance to other voluntary sector organisations or community groups about the ways to engage with universities, from first contact through to collaborative partnerships.

Beacon North East 2012. Community toolkit. A guide to working with universities. Newcastle Beacon North East.

Community Mentoring Toolkit (2013)

The Community Mentoring Toolkit is for research project that include mentoring with socially excluded households. This toolkit was produced as part of the Debt on Teesside action research project.