Week #5 (9/24): Reading Blog - Lori (Part II)

"Ethical Challenges for the “Outside” Researcher in Community-Based Participatory Research" 

This article focuses on Community-Based Participatory Research and the dilemmas that may occur when conducting such research.  The objective of CBPR is to engage the community and focus on what the community members believe is the issue that needs to be addressed or the need of the community.  The community is of priority throughout the process of CBPR.  CBPR also includes tenets such as empowering the community, co learning between the community and the researcher, cooperation, asset building and action.  However, there are some issues to be aware of when conducting CBPR.

One issue to be conscious of when conducting CBPR is to be sure the community is in agreement with the topic that is going to be addressed.  Ideally the concern should be agreed upon by the community members and leaders.  However, there are times when the researcher can propose an idea to the community that the researcher may feel is of concern.  It is important to possibly have a liaison if there are cultural or racial differences between the researcher and the community members that would be the focus of the research.  The liaison could assist in building a bridge to facilitate communication and change.

Another issue to contemplate is how the researcher may be viewed by the community members, especially if the community views the researcher as a person of authority or power.  This may result from “historical trauma” in which certain cultures have been oppressed and tortured by other cultures in the past.  Examples of this are African Americans or Native Americans who have both been treated cruelly and wrongly by the white race. 

Thirdly, racism is an ongoing issue and will most certainly come into play in one or all of the three following ways:  Institutionalized racism, personally mediated racism and/or internalized racism.  However, one way to combat these forms of racism is to be aware of them and also to have “cultural humility”.  This means that one must be willing and able to discuss racism when they see it in play or even after it has occurred.  Being open minded and courageous enough to discuss the issue will contribute to the decrease in these forms of racism.

Participation is another issue or barrier that one may encounter when conducting CBPR.  It is important to identify who the community is that will be researched rather than relying on community stakeholders to identify it for the researcher.  Along with this is it crucial to be culturally sensitive and aware of the members of the community that are being researched.  This may include providing transportation, child care or food to accommodate their situation.  It may also include changing the site for research or using an interpreter or translator to conduct the research based on the community's needs.

Finally, there may be some disagreement between the community and the researcher once the findings are analyzed and presented.  The community may not be in agreement with the findings being published for fear that it may adversely effect them or others similar to them.  There must be discussion initially regarding this issue as well as throughout the research project.  However, if during the presentation of findings the community asks for the results to remain private the researcher should strongly consider this.