Practical Steps to Community Engaged Research: From Inputs to Outcomes

2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 904-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malika Roman Isler ◽  
Giselle Corbie-Smith

For decades, the dominant research paradigm has included trials conducted in clinical settings with little involvement from communities. However, concerns about the relevance and applicability of the processes or outcomes of such research have led to calls for greater community engagement in the research process. As such, there has been a shift in emphasis from simply recruiting research participants from community settings to engaging community members more broadly in all aspects of the research process. The move toward community engaged research (CEnR) is in part driven by the recognition that inclusion of diverse perspectives in multidisciplinary teams is essential to addressing complex problems. Investigators have come to recognize the inherent value of engaging community members as collaborators in multidisciplinary teams that are conducting research on issues of concern to communities. The insider perspective from community members is now recognized as essential in designing effective and well-received recruitment strategies, culturally appropriate measures, and identifying meaningful and broad-reaching venues for dissemination.

Author(s):  
Margaret R. Boyd

Community-based research challenges the traditional research paradigm by recognizing that complex social problems today must involve multiple stakeholders in the research process—not as subjects but as co-investigators and co-authors. It is an “orientation to inquiry” rather than a methodology and reflects a transdisciplinary paradigm by including academics from many different disciplines, community members, activists, and often students in all stages of the research process. Community-based research is relational research where all partners change and grow in a synergistic relationship as they work together and strategize to solve issues and problems that are defined by and meaningful to them. This chapter is an introduction to the historical roots and subdivisions within community-based research and discusses the core principles and skills useful when designing and working with community members in a collaborative, innovative, and transformative research partnership. The rationale for working within this research paradigm is discussed as well as the challenges researchers and practitioners face when conducting community-based research. As the scholarship and practice of this form of research has increased dramatically over the last twenty years, this chapter looks at both new and emerging issues as well as founding questions that continue to be debated in the contemporary discourse.


Author(s):  
Margaret R. Boyd

Community-based research challenges the traditional research paradigm by recognizing that complex social problems in the early 21st century must involve multiple stakeholders in the research process—not as subjects but as coinvestigators and coauthors. It is an orientation to inquiry rather than a methodology and reflects a transdisciplinary paradigm by including academics from many disciplines, community members, activists, and often students in all stages of the research process. Community-based research is relational research where all participants change and grow in a synergistic relationship as they work together and strategize to solve issues and problems that are defined by and meaningful to the community. This chapter is an introduction to the historical and philosophical roots of community-based research and discusses the core principles and skills useful when designing and working with community members in a collaborative, innovative, and transformative research partnership. The rationale for working within this research paradigm is discussed, as well as the challenges researchers and practitioners face when conducting community-based research. This chapter ends with a discussion of the continuing need for discussion, reflection, and case studies from the field regarding professional boundaries, institutional barriers, ethical research practices, and project evaluation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 26-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emery R. Eaves ◽  
Bailey S. Kohlbeck ◽  
Carolyn Camplain

As local, participatory research becomes more common, the logistics of conducting such research continues to challenge anthropologists' and other researchers' traditional sense of disconnection from research participants. Using interviews with the researchers involved in a study conducted in a local county jail, we consider major barriers to conducting research with incarcerated individuals. Challenges stemmed from concerns about getting to know inmates at the local jail in a small community, as well as frustration with navigating a highly structured and inherently unequal situation. This article will discuss our process, the challenges that have been experienced by others, new challenges we faced, and strategies we utilized to overcome those challenges. In addition, this article will address and explain the specific experience of the authors related to managing the research process, navigating the jail, and working within the established structures of a jail setting.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Creed

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the experiences in working collaboratively with physically impaired visual artists and other stakeholders (e.g. disability arts organisations, charities, personal assistants, special needs colleges, assistive technologists, etc.) to explore the potential of digital assistive tools to support and transform practice. Design/methodology/approach – The authors strategically identified key organisations as project partners including Disability Arts Shropshire, Arts Council England, the British Council, SCOPE, and National Star College (a large special needs college). This multi-disciplinary team worked together to develop relationships with disabled artists and to collaboratively influence the research focus around investigating the current practice of physically impaired artists and the impact of digital technologies on artistic work. Findings – The collaborations with disabled artists and stakeholders throughout the research process have enriched the project, broadened and deepened research impact, and enabled a firsthand understanding of the issues around using assistive technology for artistic work. Artists and stakeholders have become pro-active collaborators and advocates for the project as opposed to being used only for evaluation purposes. A flexible research approach was crucial in helping to facilitate research studies and enhance impact of the work. Originality/value – This paper is the first to discuss experiences in working with physically impaired visual artists – including the benefits of a collaborative approach and the considerations that must be made when conducting research in this area. The observations are also relevant to researchers working with disabled participants in other fields.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosetta Lillian Smith ◽  
Sue Devine ◽  
Robyn Preston

When addressing disparities in health status of Indigenous Australians, it is necessary to consult with Indigenous people to explore their health needs. The process of improving health outcomes is complex; it requires acknowledgement of underlying cultural and social determinants of health and active engagement of Indigenous people to define the issues and identify solutions. The aim of this study is to explore the most appropriate research methodologies to determine Australian Indigenous community members’ perceptions of their health needs. A scoping review was conducted in BioMed Central, CINAHL, Informit Health, MEDLINE Ovid, ProQuest and Scopus databases and Google Scholar for all relevant literature published between 2009 and 2018. Extensive manual searches of reference lists were also undertaken. The limited number of articles relating to needs assessment with Indigenous community members prescribed broadening the scope of the review to include articles that describe methodologies to enhance Indigenous people’s engagement in the research process. Twelve papers met the inclusion criteria. Three major themes emerged: (1) the imperative to develop and implement Indigenist research methodologies; (2) participatory action research (PAR) and community-based participatory research (CBPR) as appropriate methodologies to conduct research with Indigenous community members; and (3) yarning or storytelling as a culturally appropriate Indigenous method of data collection.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tewodros Tariku Gebresilase ◽  
Zebene Deresse ◽  
Girmay Tsegay ◽  
Tesfaye Sisay Tessema ◽  
Abraham Aseffa ◽  
...  

Background: Obtaining genuine informed consent from research participants in developing countries can be difficult, partly due to poor knowledge about research process and research ethics. The situation is complicated when conducting genomic research on a disease considered familial and a reason for stigmatisation. Methods: We used a Rapid Ethical Appraisal tool to assess local factors that were barriers to getting genuine informed consent prior to conducting a genetic study of podoconiosis (non-filarial elephantiasis) in two Zones of Ethiopia. The tool included in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with patients, healthy community members, field workers, researchers/Institutional Review Board (IRB) members, elders, religious leaders, and podoconiosis administrators who work closely with patients. Results: Most patients and healthy community members did not differentiate research from routine clinical diagnosis. Participants felt comfortable when approached in the presence of trusted community members. Field workers and podoconiosis administrators preferred verbal consent, whereas the majority of patients and healthy community members prefer both verbal and written consent. Participants better understood genetic susceptibility concepts when analogies drawn from their day-to-day experience were used. The type of biological sample sought and gender were the two most important factors affecting the recruitment process. Most researchers and IRB members indicated that reporting incidental findings to participants is not a priority in an Ethiopian context. Conclusions: Understanding the concerns of local people in areas where research is to be conducted facilitates the design of contextualized consent processes appropriate for all parties and will ultimately result in getting genuine consent.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bormet

Abstract Faith-based organizations (FBOs) provide approximately 40% of healthcare in Kenya and 30% in Zambia. Promoting healthy families is a value at the heart of faith communities. This intervention focused on equipping and encouraging religious leaders (RLs), whose churches own and operate faith-based health facilities, to advocate for family planning (FP) within their congregations, communities, governments. This project included baseline assessments, FP sensitization, and media trainings. Religious leaders were trained through an adaptation of the AFP SMART training by ensuring culturally appropriate messaging for religious audiences were included (i.e. using scripture to discuss and develop messages on families, planning, having children, etc.). Training RLs provides an entree into government fora as culturally respected leaders in positions of power. In order for external advocacy to take place outside of church settings, it is crucial to identify how each church defines FP before meeting with external stakeholders. Creation of low-literacy terms in English and local languages that equipped RLs to interact with community members in-person (i.e. church services, weddings, funerals, community barazas, etc.) and via TV and radio shows was key in addressing myths and misconceptions. Eighty-six religious leaders from 16 denominations in Kenya and Zambia were engaged to sensitize communities and advocate with their Ministries of Health on behalf of the faith community to ensure family planning services reach communities. Equipping RLs in culturally and language appropriate contexts builds stronger advocates for healthy families and communities. Key messages To demonstrate how religious leaders in Kenya and Zambia are equipped to advocate for family planning from a faith perspective. Words and definitions and messengers matter in Family Planning Advocacy from a faith perspective.


Author(s):  
David Naff ◽  
Kimberly Good ◽  
Valeria Robnolt ◽  
Angela Allen ◽  
Meredith Parker ◽  
...  

This article details the community-engaged research process employed by a researcher–practitioner partnership (RPP) to develop and pilot a common exit survey of teachers from participating school districts at the end of the 2018–2019 school year. This development occurred with input from school district representatives serving on a study team as well as through ongoing conversations with district human resource directors. There were three goals for this process: (1) to develop a common exit survey relevant to local needs with a strong conceptual framework, (2) to increase response rates and establish consistent administration practices in the region, and (3) to inform future data collection and analysis related to the broader RPP study on teacher retention. The resultant instrument articulated nine common categories of reasons for leaving based on analysis and adaptation of regional exit surveys: retirement, personal reasons, teacher preparation, compensation and benefits, career advancement/switch or higher education, community context, district context, school context, and testing and accountability context. Exit survey items are provided with reliability and validity information, and theoretical and practical implications are discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 167-174
Author(s):  
Charles Auerbach

This chapter was designed to provide readers a broad understanding of factors that should be considered when attempting to implement research in a practice environment. Common obstacles to conducting research in practice settings are discussed in this chapter and include administrative factors, work demands placed on practitioners, the availability of research knowledge and skills, and the research tradition of some professions. To address these, recommendations have been developed to remediate these barriers. These involve building support and demand for practice research by increasing its value to stakeholders, the development of and/or accessibility to research skills, and providing the infrastructure necessary to conduct practice research. The importance of including practitioners in the process of building research capacity is discussed. In order to increase the chances of success, capacity building must be collaborative. All activities should include representation from all employee groups that will either participate in the research process or be consumers of research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-181
Author(s):  
Nadia O’Brien ◽  
Carrie Martin ◽  
Doris Peltier ◽  
Angela Kaida ◽  
Marissa Becker ◽  
...  

Guided by an Indigenous Methodology and a participatory research approach, we explored the experiences and priorities of Indigenous women living in Quebec regarding HIV prevention and care, overall health, and well-being. We drew from our research process to identify recommendations for conducting research with Indigenous women. These lessons include: (1) incorporating culturally adapted methods (e.g., sharing circles, arts, ceremony) facilitated participants’ safety and comfort; (2) conducting numerous workshops was valuable in building trust; and (3) validating findings with participants was essential to ensuring that the knowledge, experiences, and priorities of Indigenous women were respected. Our research findings regarding the care needs and priorities of women emphasize the importance of peer-led groups, culturally rooted healing strategies, accessible harm reduction, and social supports. Participatory research, led by members of the communities concerned, imbues the research with local knowledge and wisdom, which ensures the relevance of the research, the appropriateness of its conduct, and enables its overall success.


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