The Ethics of Survivor Research
Alison Faulkner, Policy Press
ISBN 1861346417, £9.95

STAR RATINGS: 4/5

The author, an independent survivor-researcher, has produced a set of guidelines that will help service users, practitioners and academics attend to ethical aspects of survivor-controlled research, writes John Percival. 

Subtitled Guidelines for the Ethical Conduct of Research Carried Out by Mental Health Service Users and Survivors, the author looks at the stages of research, from clarification of underlying principles, planning and design to dissemination and implementation. These guidelines differ from most because of the prominence given to working with mental health service users throughout this process.

Key issues include the importance of a flexible process to cater for different needs, abilities and periods of illness or distress, as well as a commitment to change or action based on the research findings. The guidelines also examine the role of training in research skills, backed up by suggestions for further reading, and emphasises the relevance of emotional, practical and supervisory support.

This accessibly written book expounds good research practice, makes use of illuminating extracts from individual and focus group interviews and provides valuable sources of further information.

John Percival is lecturer in health and social care, the Open University