CBR 101

An Introduction to Community
Based Research

Welcome & Introductions

Introductions:
Name, affiliation
What is your experience/ comfort level with CBR?
What do you hope to learn today?

Workshop Objectives
Upon Completion of this Workshop you will be able to:
Define the various terms associated with Community Based
Research
Describe the values and principles of CBR
Identify the barriers and facilitating factors associated with CBR
Describe the advantages of CBR as an approach to research
Identify strategies for partnership development and monitoring
over the duration of a CBR project.

Agenda
Introduction to CBR partnerships
Break
Terms of reference
Lunch
Terms of reference continued
Break
Case studies
Next Steps
Workshop Evaluation

What is CBR?

When you hear community-based research,what

words or phrases come to mind?
How would you define it?

Some CBR Definitions

CBR is research that is conducted by, with or for communities.
(Sclove et al, 1998)

CBR is research with a substantial level of community

participation for the purposes of community improvement
and social change.
(Loka Institute, 2002)

CBR Definitions Contd

CBR is a collaborative approach to research that
equitably involves all partners in the research
process and recognizes the unique strengths that
each brings. CBR begins with a research topic of
importance to the community with the aim of
combining knowledge and action for social
change to improve community (conditions) .
Minkler & Wallerstein (2003)
Community-Based Participatory Research for Health
Jossey-Bass (2004)

Principles of CBR
community
relevance

ethical
review

capacity
building

CBR
social action
outcomes

rigorous
methods

collaborative
partnerships

Traditional vs Community
Based Research
Traditional

CBR

Outside Expert

Team of Stakeholders

Expert defines what needs to be

researched and how

Stakeholders collectively decide focus

of research

Report may or may not be used to

make changes

Early buy-in from stakeholders

increases impact

Capacity leaves with expert

Capacity is built internally

Reasons for Partnerships

Communities and academics both face complex challenges
and need to draw on all institutions as assets
Need to address gap between research and practice, teaching
and practice
Use available means to affect positive social change at
various levels

Community-Campus Partnerships for Health,

2004

Thinking about Partnerships

How many of you work towards building and forging

partnerships? What kind? With who?
When you think of your experiences in partnerships to date:
Why are they so valuable? Why are they so frustrating?

Thinking about Partnerships

How many of you have partnered with academics before?

With community groups?
What do you share in common?
What are your differences?

Academics vs. Community Groups

Similarities
Academics are people who care
They bring unique skills and
experience
They work in complicated and
stressful environments
They have productivity quotients
They are often similarly overworked and under-resourced

Differences
They have very specific theoretical
jargon
They have different accountability
structures and bottom lines
They have different timelines and
calendars
They are not usually used to
working with communities on a
daily basis

Community Groups vs
Researchers
Communities bring:
Closer connection to lived
experience of community
Experience with strong
intersectoral partnerships
Innovative applied research ideas
Understanding of cultural
contexts
Access to some funding
Ability to affect grassroots change

Researchers bring:
Broad experience with research in
field
Access to some funding
Methodological expertise
Research infrastructure, including
personnel
Theoretical frameworks
Access to credibility
Ethics review process
Ability to affect policy change

Roles

What role does community play in CBR projects?

What roles do academics play in CBR projects?

Benefits of CBR
For Community-Based Organizations:

Involved in shaping the research project

Can access academic networks
Can address gaps in knowledge about communities &
program and service delivery
May develop a sustained research agenda
May provide evidence for advocacy efforts and/or for
program development
Members may gain research skills

(Narciso & Patten, 2003)

Benefits of CBR
For Academic Researchers:
May gain access to communities
Based on relationships may develop trust with
communities
Potential to provide quality, quantity, validity and
relevance of research
More contextualized questions
Data is more comprehensive
(Narciso & Patten, 2003)

Characteristics of Partnership
Success

Formed to address genuine community concern

Builds on prior positive relationships & trust
Involves organizations & individuals as partners
Starts small... with community-based
organizations that are well respected

Characteristics of Partnership
Success
Explicitly defines the community and who represents them
Solid process structures & leadership
Appropriate resources
(human, financial)
Mentorship & skill building opportunities

Barriers to Partnerships
What are the major barriers?

trust
limited resources (time, money etc)
tight deadlines
other pressures
competing bottom lines (services vs. research)
limited knowledge or capacity
limited interest
CBR lacks credibility

Thinking about Power

Research projects/partnerships are embedded in
broader social, economic and political contexts...
How might some of these social, economic and
political contexts play out in CBR partnerships?
What strategies might be used to acknowledge
and minimize the impact of these imbalances?

Ethical Issues

Transparent and equitable decision-making structures

Accountability
Commitment to community
Open writing/publishing processes
Maximum attention to vulnerability
Maximum respect for community knowledge
Maximum commitment to action outcomes

Putting Principles into Practice

Formulation: building partnerships

Data gathering
Data managing & analysis
Action outcomes
Writing up

Case Studies
Summarize your case study
Report back on the issues you discussed
Report back on the strategies for resolving the issues

Maintaining partnerships
Successful partnerships depend on:
pre-existing relationships
balance between process and outcome
mind-set
cultural awareness and competency
Shore, Holmes & Seifer (2003)

Next steps
What are your goals for applying what you learned here today? Set 1-3
goals and write them down.
Goal 1:
Goal 2:
Goal 3:

What are 3 action steps you plan to take after leaving the workshop?
Write them down.
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:

Workshop Objectives
Upon Completion of this Workshop you will be able to:
Define the various terms associated with Community Based
Research
Describe the values and principles of CBR
Identify the barriers and facilitating factors associated with CBR
Describe the advantages of CBR as an approach to research
Identify strategies for partnership development and monitoring
over the duration of a CBR project.

Workshop Evaluation

Your feedback is extremely important!

Please complete the workshop evaluation.
Thank you!

CBR 101
An Introduction to Community
Based Research