Community-Engaged Research: A Tool to Promote Health Equity and Social Change

Human service professions are often tasked with the job of translating jargon-laden science into the world of those we serve. The aim of this translation is to produce some form of systematic change that improves the well-being of our communities and constituents. Community-engaged research (CER) is a tool that not only aids in the translation of science that improves lives but also is embued with democratic values necessary for a healthy society. The objective of this post is to outline the key concepts of CER that human service professionals can utilize within their organizations and professional practice.

Defining Community-Engaged Research

Community-engaged research (CER) is an approach to research that involves partnering with community members and organizations to address everyday social problems. CER has the potential to promote a future in which individuals and communities feel a sense of belonging, connection, self-worth, and dignity.

CER often is used within higher education to incorporate service and scholarship. Universities have missions to not only be centers of knowledge creation but to also be a resource within their communities. However, CER by definition does not have to be conducted through universities; though it is the most common. The most important component of CER is the engagement of the community. The community can include residents, consumers, government officials, non-profits, educators, and business owners. It is any individuals, groups, agencies, or institutions that are bonded together by a common thread.

In CER the language shifts from clients and consumers, in the case of mental health services, and respondents, in the case of traditional research, towards stakeholders and constituents. CER works alongside individuals that have a stake or vested interest in the outcome of the research being conducted. Ultimately, this shift in language demonstrates larger principles within CER such as mutuality, reciprocity, engagement, advocacy, empowerment, transparency, and sustainability. Each of these points toward a collaborative and democratic framework in which research in conduct and knowledge is constructed.

CER has several modalities in which it operates. Community-engaged research focuses on establishing partnerships between organizations. Community-based participatory research focuses on the full involvement of stakeholders throughout the entire research process. Participatory action research focuses on mobilizing constituents towards policy or legislative change. And lastly, service learning, which is technically not research but is an honorable mention where universities incorporate student learning directly into their communities.

How is Community-Engaged Research Different from Traditional Research?

CER differs from traditional research in several ways. In traditional research, the researcher holds the role of the expert, and their experiences and knowledge are privileged over those being studied. However, in participatory practices, the expertise shifts to those with lived experiences. This approach allows for community members to take an active role in the research process and ensures that their voices and experiences are centered. As a result, research becomes a collaborative practice where knowledge is co-created and translated into actionable recommendations for the community. This approach can be especially beneficial in social epidemiology, where community-level factors and experiences can play a significant role in shaping health outcomes.

Community-Engaged Research as Translational Scholarship

CER is an approach that emphasizes collaboration and the translation of research findings into action within a community. This approach is often used in studies about social determinants of health, such as poverty and housing insecurity, and for implementing trauma-informed care practices. CER can also be applied to a variety of topics within public health, program evaluations for human service agencies, diversity, equity, and inclusion projects, and applied social capital research. By involving community members in the research process, CER ensures that research findings are grounded in the experiences and needs of the community and that interventions and programs are tailored to meet those needs. CER is an important tool for advancing social work practice and promoting health equity.

Case Example of Community-Engaged Research

One example of successful CER is the work of Padela and colleagues, who conducted community-based participatory research (CBPR) with American Muslims in Chicago, IL, and southern Michigan. The researchers partnered with over 60 mosques, community centers, and social service organizations to ensure the research was conducted in a way to represent the lived experience of American Muslims in these areas. The research team is guided by a Community Advisory Board made up of prominent community leaders and an interdisciplinary investigation team. The Community Advisory Board was involved at each stage of the study, from the study design, survey instrumentation, data collection, and results interpretation. Padela's research addressed various topics including healthcare accommodations, perceived abuse and discrimination, happiness, and health status, perceptions of healing, disparities in mammography utilization, and disparities in breast cancer screenings. This CBPR approach was critical in ensuring that the research was community-driven and that the findings were applicable and meaningful to the American Muslim community.

Strategies for Community-Engaged Research

There are several key strategies for effective CER. Firstly, partnerships are essential, with relationships between researchers and community members being more important than individual research projects. CER also involves listening to and honoring the self-authored identities of community members and taking seriously the social problems they present. Vulnerability is also a key trait, recognizing that researchers are likely to make mistakes and using these moments as learning opportunities to build stronger partnerships. Clear role expectations should also be established, with consensus around roles and steps for accountability. It is also important to use public or neutral spaces for meetings and discussions, as the setting can impact the level of trust and engagement between researchers and community members. Finally, mixed-methods approaches or cycling between qualitative and quantitative methods can provide a more comprehensive understanding of community needs and experiences. By employing these strategies, CER can be a powerful tool for advancing social work practice and promoting health equity.

Conclusion

Community-engaged research (CER) is a collaborative approach to research that involves partnering with community members and organizations to address everyday social problems. Unlike traditional research, the expertise in CER shifts to those with lived experiences, allowing community members to take an active role in the research process. CER is grounded in democratic values such as mutuality, reciprocity, engagement, advocacy, empowerment, transparency, and sustainability, and emphasizes collaboration and the translation of research findings into action within a community. CER is an important tool for promoting health equity, advancing social work practice, and improving the well-being of communities and constituents. By employing effective strategies such as building sustainable partnerships, honoring self-authored identities, demonstrating vulnerability, and providing clear role expectations, CER can be used to make systematic changes that improve the lives of those we serve.