Ethics guide
Why do we need ethical principles and guidelines for community research?
Community research has the power to bring about real change, but it also carries responsibility. That’s why we need to think carefully about how research is done, and how it affects the people involved.
Ethical guidelines help make sure community-led research is respectful, inclusive, and fair at every stage, from planning a project to sharing the findings.
The following guides introduce ethical principles and guidelines for community research.
If you’re planning and running research funded by the Rural Durham Community Research Network, please refer to the following guides:
Download the full ethics guide (Word doc, 1.4mb)
This comprehensive guide helps you plan and carry out ethical community-led research. It includes:
Key values for research: honesty, fairness, respect, and care
Principles that support community-led research, such as inclusion, shared learning and making a difference
Practical guidance for every stage of the process, including:
Deciding whether and how to work together
Creating a shared plan or working agreement
Designing the research and involving others fairly
Collecting and analysing information with care
Sharing results clearly and respectfully
Thinking about the impact and what happens next
Checking in regularly to reflect on what’s working, and what needs to change