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Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR): Research that Addresses Difference, Power, and Discrimination: Home

This guide will assist those seeking research that is community-based and participatory in nature.

Overview

The genesis of this guide was the Difference, Power, and Discrimination (DPD) Academy I attended in Summer 2014 at Oregon State University. In my work with Public Health and Human Sciences students, I see that many are interested in research topics that address the health disparities of under-represented. marginalized, and minority populations. This guide is intended to serve as a starting point in valuing and incorporting this type of research in student projects.

Background Reading

What is Community-Based Participatory Research?

"Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an applied collaborative approach that enables community residents to more actively participate in the full spectrum of research (from conception – design – conduct – analysis – interpretation – conclusions – communication of results) with a goal of influencing change in community health, systems, programs or policies."

(NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research)

CBPR helps address concerns of exploitation and research fatigue among members of disadvanteged, marginalized, stigmatized, and under-represented communities who have often been the subject of research studies. CBPR promotes "research with" these communities and their members rather than "research on" these communities and their members.

Key Principles of CBPR

The key principles of CBPR are:

1. recognizes community as a unit of identity;
2. builds on strengths and resources within the community;
3. facilitates collaborative, equitable involvement of all partners in all phases
of the research;
4. integrates knowledge and action for mutual benefit of all partners;
5. promotes a co-learning and empowering process that attends to social
inequalities;
6. involves a cyclical and iterative process;
7. addresses health from both positive and ecological perspectives;
8. disseminates findings and knowledge gained to all partners; and
9. involves a long-term commitment by all partners.


Source:

Israel, B.A., Schulz, A.J., Parker, E.A., & Becker, A.B. (2001). Community-based participatory research: Policy recommendations for promoting a partnership approach in health research. Education for Health, 14(2), 182-197. Retrieved from http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/pdf_files/EducforHealthIsrael.pdf

Who Engages in CBPR

A simple keyword search on "community-based participatory research" in Web of Science reveals literature from across a wide range of research areas.

research areas associated with CBPR