Community-Based Participatory Research Research Proposal

(Leavy, 2021)

1. Introduction:

   • Form research partnership with non-academic stakeholders.

   • Develop and execute a project based on a community-identified problem.

   • Emphasizes values, collaboration, power-sharing, and diverse knowledge types.

2. CBPR Template:

   • Title, abstract, keywords, problem/issue, literature review, research purpose, research questions, philosophical statement, settings, participants, design/methods, data analysis, representation/dissemination, ethics statement, references, appendices.

3. Title:

   • Clearly state the main problem/issue and the community of interest.

4. Abstract:

   • 150-200 words overview: problem, stakeholders, community partners, research purpose, questions, basic methods, and social action agenda.

5. Keywords:

   • 5-6 keywords identifying main problem, stakeholders, community, CBPR design.

6. The Topic: The Problem or Issue:

   • Start with a general topic, involve stakeholders in community partners.

   • Conduct literature review, collaboratively craft a problem/issue statement.

7. Research Purpose Statement:

   • Move from general topic to specific problem/issue, then to research purpose.

   • Briefly focus on primary goals, main problem, stakeholders, setting/participants, methodology, and the primary reason for research.

8. Research Questions:

   • Team collectively generates central questions.

   • 1-3 primary questions with subquestions, inductive, change-oriented, and inclusive.

9. Research Plan: Philosophical Statement:

   • Grounded in critical pedagogy and transformative paradigm.

   • Influenced by critical theories, feminist theory, critical race theory, participatory, inclusive, human rights-based, democratic, and culturally responsive approaches.

10. Settings and Participants:

    • Where does the research take place?

    • Strive for the selection of research participants to inform design and method choices.

    • Formal/informal community settings, multiple settings with gatekeepers.

11. Signs and Methods:

    • CBPR is an orientation, not a method.

    • Problem-centered, driven methods selected to best address the problem.

    • Responsive design: iterative process, clear division of labor, mutual benefit, power-sharing.

12. CPBR Design Principles:

    • Problem-centered, collaboration, cultural sensitivity, social action, recruitment/retention, trust/rapport, multiplicity, flexibility/innovation, researcher skills.

13. Data Analysis and Interpretation:

    • Selected based on methods/practices.

    • Collaboration among research partners, inductive interpretation through theoretical frameworks.

14. Representation and Dissemination:

    • Involves robust discussion on audience, accessibility, and authorship.

    • Multiple audiences identified, public scholarship useful in social/political conversations.

    • Findings represented in various formats for different venues.

15. Ethics Statement:

    • Robust discussion of ethical substructure, addressing values, ethical practices, and reflexivity.

    • Clarify the value system, social justice imperative, collaboration principles, attention to underrepresented groups, cultural competence, power-sharing, and positive social change.

16. Ethical Praxis:

    • Institutional review board approvals, informed consent, relational ethics, representation, and dissemination of findings.

17. Reflexivity:

    • Attention to power dynamics, insider-outsider status, avoiding colonization/exploitation.

18. References, Appendices:

    • Proposed budget, recruitment letter, informed consent document, instruments.