Summary

The Centre for Research & Education on Violence against Women & Children, Western University investigates systemic and structural barriers to the safety of women and children through community-engaged research partnerships. They created this Guide based on experiences of Knowledge Hub members who were involved in trauma- and violence-informed research during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as published literature and guidelines.

Because gender-based violence occurs at higher rates during emergencies, it is critical to consider how to safely and effectively introduce or continue intervention research during and after a local, national, or global crisis.

Practice & Policy Implications

Researchers conducting community-based research with people who have experienced gender-based violence can adapt these guidelines for any phase of an intervention research project. 17 research intervention guidelines are discussed, including:

• Considering whether the emergency requires a shift in intervention research priorities and questions.
• Ensuring the safety of participants in recruitment strategies and processes including a fully informed consent process.
• Collaborating with participants to adapt data collection methods and gauging their willingness and ability to do so.
• Considering how to provide appropriate training and support for research team members.

Image source: https://kh-cdc.ca/en/resources/guides/guide2/index.html