Community-Based Participatory Research

Barbara A. Israel & Amy J. Schulz & Edith A. Parker & Adam B. Becker & Alex J. Allen III & J. Ricardo Guzman

Community-based participatory research in public health is a partnership approach to research that equitably involves, for example, community members, organizational representatives, and researchers in all aspects of the research process. All partners contribute their expertise and share responsibility and ownership to enhance understanding of a given phenomenon and to integrate the knowledge gained with interventions to improve the health and well-being of community members (Israel, Schultz, Parker, & Becker, 1998). There are a number of partnership approaches to research and action that span the social science literature, including participatory research, participatory action research, action research, cooperative inquiry, and empowerment evaluation (Israel et al., 1998). While these approaches differ on several dimensions, each includes the active involvement of all participants in the research process and a commitment to conducting research that will benefit those involved, through the use of research findings to guide policy change and/or through direct interventions. The use ...

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