Trauma-Informed Participatory Research in Displacement Studies: Ethical and Methodological Considerations from Lebanon and Beyond

Researching displacement in Lebanon requires methodological approaches that are both participatory and trauma-informed—approaches that are ethically inseparable and mutually reinforcing. This paper offers a conceptual and methodological reflection on the integration of trauma-informed principles into participatory research with displaced communities, drawing on fieldwork experiences with Syrian, Palestinian, and other refugee groups in Lebanon. Rather than presenting empirical findings, it critically engages with the ethical, institutional, and structural challenges that hinder the adoption of trauma-informed participatory methods within academic, humanitarian, and policy spaces. The paper proposes a trauma-informed participatory research approach that centers refugee agency, safeguards psychosocial well-being, and promotes co-creation of knowledge. It critiques extractive research practices and reflects on alternative frameworks such as refugee-led storytelling, participatory archiving, and collaborative data governance. By advancing this dual framework, the paper contributes to ongoing debates on ethical research methodologies and outlines principles and practices for institutions seeking to support more just, sustainable, and community-driven research infrastructures in displacement settings.