What is Community-based Participatory Research?

 

There are different interpretations of precisely what this type of research entails, but a commonly accepted definition is the active engagement of community members in all aspects of the research process (e.g., from defining the question to collecting the data, to interpretation of the results). This review provides a great introduction to CBPR including the key principles and rational for selecting this method. What is exciting to me, is the mutually beneficial nature of CBPR. In addition to results potentially interesting to the academic community, the research can produce outcomes valuable to the participating community. The results may lead to new resources, knowledge, or changes that can improve the health and well-being of a community's residents. Partnerships between researchers and communities can increase the relevancy of projects.

Review Citation: Israel, B a, a J Schulz, E a Parker, and a B Becker. 1998. "Review of Community-Based Research: Assessing Partnership Approaches to Improve Public Health." Annual Review of Public Health 19: 173–202. doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.19.1.173.