Decolonial Community Based Research in Psychology: Case Studies for Students and Educators

Decolonising involves centring the perspectives and knowledges of Indigenous and Global Majority communities. Participatory and community-based research methods can be decolonial when done properly, as they are grounded in building equitable partnerships with minoritised communities and valuing their lived experience and ways of knowing. Aligned with Indigenous principles, these approaches support the co-construction of knowledge that is reflective, contextual and rooted in relational accountability. This booklet presents five real examples of participatory and community-based research embedding decolonial reflections, primarily within health, psychology, and related fields. It is designed for students and educators and offers concrete, field-based examples grounded in researchers’ expertise and experiences. It focuses on strategies for designing and conducting research that is genuinely mutually beneficial and equitable.

Case study 1 features Dr Nilu Ahmed’s exploration of the experiences and stories of Bangladeshi women living in the UK. Case study 2 highlights Dr Taylor-Jai McAlister’s experiences with suicide prevention research in and with Aboriginal communities in Australia. In case study 3, Catherine Jameson discusses Patient, Public and Community Involvement and Engagement (PCIE) in UK health research with ethnically diverse communities. Case study 4 presents Kacey Martin’s insights from a sexual health project with young Aboriginal people in Australia. Finally, case study 5 explores Dr Vera da Silva Sinha’s research on event-based time languages with Indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon.

The booklet was organised and edited by Isabella Macedo de Lucas as part of her PhD project on decolonising research methods education in psychology. Her work is funded through a cotutelle PhD studentship between the University of Bristol and Macquarie University. Isabella’s supervisors are Associate Professor Peter Allen, Associate Professor Nilu Ahmed, and Professor Christopher Kent at the University of Bristol, as well as Professor Greg Downey and Dr Umut Ozguc at Macquarie University.

The case studies were co-designed in collaboration with and co-edited by Dr Nilu Ahmed, Dr Taylor-Jai McAlister, Catherine Jameson, Kacey Martin, and Dr Vera da Silva Sinha.

The artwork featured in this booklet is by Auá Mendes, an Indigenous artist from the Mura people of Brazil. Auá is a graphic artist, illustrator, muralist, and art educator born in Manaus (1999) and based in São Paulo since 2020. She holds a degree in graphic design, and her career combines her cultural identity with visual productions that engage with contemporary themes. Her work includes impactful urban interventions (murals up to 60 meters) and participation in projects and campaigns addressing issues such as female empowerment, diversity, and the appreciation of the Amazon. Auá Mendes is recognised as a significant voice in contemporary Brazilian art, and her work has been exhibited internationally. Connect with Auá on Instagram @aua___art.