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We believe university researchers and community members have a lot to learn from one another.
Community-based research (CBR) is a collaborative process and good CBR benefits everyone involved. The below resources can help community groups/organizations and university-based researchers learn more about how to do CBR and provide you with tools to start.
We’ve organized this information to help you with CBR from start to finish, beginning with groundwork, then planning your research, sharing findings, and lastly, mobilizing knowledge within communities.
Don’t see the guidance you need? Please email us at mrai.info@ubc.ca and we can help you find more resources.
How to Do Ethical and Community-Based Research
Start here to learn more about what CBR is. Inform yourself so you can design an ethical methodology and frame expectations with, by, and for communities.
“Cultural Humility in Teaching & Learning”
UBC Learning Circle / Evan Adams
This resource introduces the concept of cultural humility, aimed at ensuring cultural safety, i.e. creating an environment free of racism and discrimination and where people feel safe and respected. Used in health service delivery, the concept is also useful in the context of doing research.
“Research Ethics: A Guide for Community Organizations”
PACE Society / Raven Bowen
This guide addresses ethical issues in doing research with sex workers that can extend to other marginalized people. It includes a section with practical questions to consider in doing research with organizations.
“Our Place & Our Words: Mapping Downtown Eastside Community Assets and Challenges” Report
Carnegie Community Action Project
This report provides an example of how to use community mapping as a tool to bring together local residents to share their knowledge and experiences.
Toolkit: “Aboriginal Knowledge Translation: Understanding and Respecting the Distinct Needs of Aboriginal Communities in Research”
Co-authored by: Elizabeth Estey, Janet Smylie, Ann Macaulay
This resource provides an overview of key tools on doing ethical research with Aboriginal peoples, including CIHR Guidelines, the Tri-Council Policy Statement, the 4 R’s of research, and the OCAP principles.
“Research 101: A Process for Developing Local Guidelines for Ethical Research in Heavily Researched Communities”
Co-Authored by: Scott Neufeld, Jule Chapman, Nicolas Crier, Samona Marsh, Jim McLeod, Lindsay Deane
This article reports on the project creating the “Manifesto for Ethical Research in the Downtown Eastside”, offering insights and empowering resources for community organizations entering university research partnerships.
“Community Engaged Research Ethical Principles”
Simon Fraser University CERi
This website outlines ten ethical principles for community-engaged research, including harm and risk reduction, attention to context, focus on relationships, and more.
How to Make Research Accessible
Create stigma-free materials and share beyond journal articles
“What Are Creative Commons and Open Licenses?”
BC Campus
A quick explanation of Creative Commons and Open licenses, provided by BC Campus – OpenEducation. This organization also offers additional information on open educational resources.
“COVID-19 Language Guide”
BC Centre for Disease Control
This tool provides language guidelines designed to make COVID-19 written and digital content more inclusive. Inclusive messaging makes it more likely for people to see the content as relevant to their situation and experiences, therefore increasing the chances they will act on it.
“Share Your Work” Guide
Creative Commons
Creative Commons, a global body that provides open-copyright licences, offers free, simple, and standardized ways to grant copyright permissions for creative and academic works to be shared publicly.
“Community-Based Participatory Research and Integrated Knowledge Translation: Advancing the Co-creation of Knowledge”
Co-authored by: Janet Jull, Audrey Giles, Ian Graham
By better understanding the similarities and differences between CBR and knowledge translation, researchers and community-based knowledge users can leverage best practices.
“How to Talk About People Who Use Drugs”
Manitoba Harm Reduction Network
A compact checklist to create stigma-free media products and write respectfully about people who use drugs.
“Knowledge Mobilization Resources”
Research Impact Canada
Research Impact Canada offers a range of tools, trainings, and more on knowledge mobilization, including plain language checklists, needs assessment tools, and examples of Research Snapshots (article summaries).
“Guide to Communicating Research Beyond Academia”
Research Retold
Two chapters of this guide can be downloaded for free; the website also lists the resources mentioned in the guide, including software to create visual summaries, database with free icons, and other data visualization tools.