Best Practices in Research with Newcomers: Safety, Sensitivity, and Ethical Standards (webinar recording)

This May 2025 webinar was presented by Switchboard, a one-stop shop for refugee service providers in the United States. Conducting research with newcomer populations presents unique challenges for both researchers and service providers—particularly when addressing the risk of harm such as suicide, intimate partner violence (IPV), and mental health crises, especially during stressful events and transitions. This webinar explored best practices for conducting research with newcomer populations and for recognizing and responding to these risks in a sensitive manner.

Facilitated by:

• Caroline Dilts, LICSW
• Rochelle Frounfelker, ScD
• Farhad Sharifi, MSW

Participants will learn how to establish effective consent and confidentiality protocols, manage participant distress, and implement protective measures while maintaining research integrity. This webinar will also discuss how to apply research findings to strengthen support services and interventions for refugee communities and to empower community-based leadership among newcomers. Practical examples and case scenarios will illustrate some effective strategies for engaging in ethical research with newcomer communities. By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

• Evaluate risks, benefits, and ethical considerations when conducting research with vulnerable populations, including refugee and newcomer communities.
• Protect participant safety by applying informed consent, confidentiality protocols, and trauma-informed responsive research practices across cultures.
• Identify and respond to high-risk situations, such as suicide risk and intimate partner violence, in the context of community-based research.
• Engage communities through participatory research strategies and effectively share findings to inform services and policies.

You may also find these related resources useful:

Doing Research with Newcomers - ensuring it is meaningful and inclusive
This guide was developed by the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council (HIPC). It is based on a report conducted in partnership with McMaster University Research Shop. This Good Idea complements and is related to Ethical Considerations in Research with People in Situations of Forced Migration.

Ethical Considerations in Research with People in Situations of Forced Migration
The Canadian Council for Refugees worked with others to develop ethical guidelines for research with people in situations of forced migration. The guidelines include a checklist for organizations who are approached by researchers, to help evaluate whether the research will be conducted ethically, and taking into consideration the particular vulnerabilities of people who have been forcibly displaced.

Principles for Conducting Research in the Jane Finch Community
The principles in this document are intended to be used as a guide to support and strengthen research relationships between academic institutions, researchers, students, community members, residents and organizations in the Jane Finch community.