Commentary on Community-Based Participatory Research and Community Engaged Research in Health for Journal of Participatory Research Methods

Abstract

Launching a new journal on participatory research methods provides a wonderful opportunity to both acknowledge and deepen contributions to the vibrant fields of community-based participatory research (CBPR) and community-engaged research (CEnR) in the health fields. Many other disciplines, such as education, sociology, community and regional planning, communication, etc., share overlapping terms with similar commitments to shared power in research, including participatory action research, action research, participatory research, youth participatory action research, public involvement, practitioner research, collaborative research, citizen science, street science, and, a newer term in health, participatory health research, from the International Collaborative of Participatory Health Research. Within health, CBPR has been the most well-recognized form of community-engaged research for over thirty years (Wallerstein et al., 2018). Since 1998, it has operated with principles well-defined by Israel et al. (2013), and a widelydistributed definition launched in 2001 by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The principles and definition ground research practitioners in long-term commitments to co-develop research with community partners, and to build from community strengths and priorities for the purposes of translating research results into policy, practice, or system-change actions towards improving health and health equity. Minkler et al. (2012) added the principles of cultural humility and importance of addressing racism, sexism, homophobia, and other inequities of power hierarchies within academiccommunity partnerships and in society. While CBPR has often been seen as calling for involvement of grassroots people from communities, neighborhood associations, or social movements, community partners in CBPR can extend to other stakeholders, such as staff from community-based organizations, public agencies or private-sector settings, and policy makers. Each of the terms and fields named above have different histories, yet they are often divided into two separate traditions (Wallerstein et al., 2018). In the 1950s, Kurt Lewin defined "action research," often referred to as the Northern tradition, as a process of action/reflection/ action to engage teams of multiple stakeholders in research, predominantly for improving organizational settings (Lewin and Gold 1999). "Participatory research," often called the Southern tradition, emerged from activist scholars in the 1970s, drawing from the emancipatory philosophy of Paulo Freire (1970) to join forces with social Wallerstein, N. (n.d.).

A compendium of community engagement responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

“…[20][21][22] The reports informing this manuscript indicate that academic institutions have augmented their infrastructure for responding to community issues instead of focusing on individual, isolated research projects. [23][24][25][26][27] Especially now, further transformation is necessary for institutions to develop the capacity to engage communities in all phases of translational science. This aligns with the NCATS Advisory Council Working Group calling for a workforce that is competent in community engagement and collaboration.…”

Bridging Knowledge Systems: A Community-Participatory Approach to EcoHealth

“…Development of the research process entails the use of a range of qualitative participatory methods of data collection, selected to explore the multidimensional and complex issue of EcoHealth and to balance an exploratory, engaging, and empowering process with consciousness-raising, critical reflection, and priority setting. The selection and development of research methods were informed by the theoretical underpinnings of community participatory research, drawing on the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) conceptual model [ 65 ], as well as the principles of EcoHealth.…”

Community-Engaged Qualitative Scholarship During a Pandemic: Problems, Perils and Lessons Learned

“…The goals of CBPR are two-fold: (1) to generate knowledge and (2) achieve social change to improve health outcomes (University of Michigan School of Public Health, n.d.). CBPR goes by different names in different fields and disciplines—such as action research, citizen science, community engaged research, or participatory action research, among others (Wallerstein, 2020). Regardless of its label, this work is united by a focus on collaboration, taking initiative, and ultimately, social justice (Wallerstein, 2020).…”

“…CBPR goes by different names in different fields and disciplines-such as action research, citizen science, community engaged research, or participatory action research, among others (Wallerstein, 2020). Regardless of its label, this work is united by a focus on collaboration, taking initiative, and ultimately, social justice (Wallerstein, 2020).Any method-quantitative or qualitative, can be used in a CBPR approach. Yet, given CBPR's focus on rich and nuanced understandings of community and stakeholder needs, qualitative methods are particularly well-suited for CBPR approaches and, consequently, are most used (e.g., interviews, focus groups, photovoice, etc.)…”

“…CBPR goes by different names in different fields and disciplines—such as action research, citizen science, community engaged research, or participatory action research, among others (Wallerstein, 2020). Regardless of its label, this work is united by a focus on collaboration, taking initiative, and ultimately, social justice (Wallerstein, 2020).…”