Overview of Community Based Research

What is Community Based Research?

“Community based research is a collaboration between community groups and researchers to create new knowledge to bring about change.” Hills, M. & Mullet, J. (2000:1) Community-Based Research: Creating Evidence-Based Practice for Health and Social Change. Paper presented at the Qualitative Evidence-Based Practice Conference, Coventry University, May 15-17, 2000

“Like much social research, community research often involves asking people about their lives, their feelings and their experiences.” ARVAC, the Association for Research in the Voluntary Community Sector (2001) Community research - getting started: a resource pack for community groups

What are its principles?

“Community based research rests upon the principle of empowerment; it is said to build upon strengths and resources within communities and to promote a co-learning and empowering process. Thus, participants in the process arguably gain knowledge, skills, capacity and power.” Israel, B.A., Schultz, A.J., & Parker, E.A. et al (1998) Review of Community Based Research: Assessing Partnership Approaches to Improve Public Health. Annual Review of Public Health, 19, 172-202

What are its benefits?

“Individuals can clearly learn from each other by sharing their personal experiences as well as going out into the community to gather information. Involvement can also contribute to personal development through the learning of specific skills, such as computer skills, planning skills and process skills.” Papineau, D. & Kiely, M.C. (1996) Participatory Evaluation in a Community Organization: Fostering Stakeholder Empowerment and Utilization. Evaluation & Program Planning 19, 1, 79-93

“Community based research can also focus upon a more local agenda through the raising of specific local issues and concerns and often involves local groups reacting to problems at their level allowing research to be steered in the direction of what local people really want.” Schlove, R.E., Scammell, M.L. & Holland, B. (1998) Community-Based Research in the United States. Massachusetts, The Loka Institute