U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
        Here’s how you know
    Goverment symbol**Official websites use .gov**
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Lock symbol**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            A lock (
              A locked padlock
                 ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive
              information only on official, secure websites.
 Skip to main content JoinDonate
    About
    About
          About
        
About menu block one
  

        
        What We Do
                Our Impact
                Agency FAQs
About menu block two
  

        
        Our Team
                Careers
About menu block three
  

        
        Agency Overview
                            Budget and Performance Plans
                Disability and Accessibility
                Federal Register Notices
                Open Government
                Plain Writing
                Privacy Policy
                Strategic Plan

  

  
Serve
    Serve
          Serve
        
Serve menu block one
  

        
        AmeriCorps
                            AmeriCorps NCCC
                AmeriCorps State and National
                AmeriCorps VISTA
                AmeriCorps Seniors
                            AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program
                AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
                AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program
Serve menu block two
  

        
        Volunteer
                            9/11 Day
                MLK Day
Serve menu block three
  

        
        Find Your Fit
                Serve FAQs

  

  
Partner
    Partner
          Partner
        
Partner menu block one
  

        
        How it Works
                            AmeriCorps NCCC
                AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent
                AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
                AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion
                AmeriCorps State and National
                AmeriCorps VISTA
                Research and Evaluation
                Volunteer Generation Fund
Partner menu block two
  

        
        Partnerships
                Communities and Initiatives
                Funding Opportunities
Partner menu block three
  

        
        Partner FAQs

  

  
Members & Volunteers
    Members & Volunteers
          Members & Volunteers
        
Members & Volunteers menu block one
  

        
        Your Benefits
                Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
                Education Award FAQs
Members & Volunteers menu block two
  

        
        Alumni
                Members in VISTA
Members & Volunteers menu block three
  

        
        Member and Volunteer FAQs
                Safety and Security

  

  
Grantees & Sponsors
    Grantees & Sponsors
          Grantees & Sponsors
        
Grantee & Sponsors menu block one
  

        
        State Service Commissions
                State and National Direct Grantees
                State Subgrantees
                VISTA Sponsors
                Research and Evaluation Grantees
                Volunteer Generation Fund and Days of Service Grantees
Grantee & Sponsors menu block two
  

        
        RSVP Grantees
                Foster Grandparent Program Grantees
                Senior Companion Program Grantees
                Senior Demonstration Program Grantees
                NCCC Project Sponsors
Grantee & Sponsors menu block three
  

        
        Manage Your Grant
                Grantee and Sponsor FAQs

  

  
Newsroom
    Newsroom
          Newsroom
        
Newsroom menu block one
  

        
        News
                Blog
Newsroom menu block two
  

        
        Stories
                Events
Newsroom menu block three
  

        
        In the News
                Communication Resources



  
Contact
    Contact
    JoinDonate
search Breadcrumb

              Participatory Research: An Equitable Approach to Community Engagement
      Submitted by 
eschneider
 on 
Fri, 07/23/2021 - 12:05Jul 26, 2021
        Andrea Robles, PhD and Melissa Gouge, PhD
  

                    No one understands a community better than its residents; and no one can problem solve community issues with complete fairness more than its residents. Thus, empowering community members to identify local issues is the first step to solving pressing issues. That’s the sentiment behind participatory research.

AmeriCorps works toward strengthening communities by supporting and increasing civic engagement and volunteerism around the country. One way AmeriCorps is able to do this is through participatory research, which engages individuals and communities to explore local issues and produce more impactful, equitable resolutions.
                  




      Traditional research methodologies take a top-down approach to data collection and evaluation, with researchers taking a priority role while seeking to understand a topic or issue from the outside. Participatory research subverts that approach by empowering residents as experts who can educate and aid researchers on their communities from within. This alternative research approach emphasizes the importance of involving members of the community as active and equal participants in all phases of the research project.

AmeriCorps Research and Evaluation funds participatory research grants to investigate community priorities and develop actionable solutions. This cutting-edge methodology is built on three pillars:

Community: Community members are actively involved in the research. The residents’ voices are amplified, allowing them to reach more people and directly affect change. This promotes an equitable approach to community solutions by considering the needs and concerns of the community from a first-person point of view.

Research: Research incorporates community experiences and perspective into the process to maximize validity. Rather than reading and studying communities from afar, the researchers are in the field and gain first-hand details and data directly from the residents. This contributes to a more authentic approach to their work and can thereby improve the validity of the research.

*“Without that support of research...legislators or policy makers will look the other way because at the end of the day, numbers talk. Hard research does talk. And so, it's been exciting to see, with [participatory research] how that can really support community work.” - Leslie Abraham (Smith College)*

Action: Community stakeholders take actionable steps based on research findings. While researchers have the best intentions, they are not usually directly ingrained in the communities when using traditional research approaches. Consequently, research does not always translate to action. Residents have a vested interest in the outcomes of their communities, and by being part of the research and solution, they can take a much more active role in enacting change.

Through technical assistance and grant-making opportunities, AmeriCorps amplifies participatory research nationwide. In addition, it connects communities with AmeriCorps’ national service programs to efficiently assist in tackling the community issues identified during the research process.

*It's really fun. It's rewarding. It's impactful. It's different than other types of research. When we do other research projects that aren't community based or have an action component, sometimes it feels like we publish and we're moving on with our careers. But what is really happening with this stuff? With this project, I know that we're trying to make a difference in people's lives, and we are making a difference in people's lives. I feel like that's what we're supposed to be doing with our research, research to action. And the community-based participatory model just naturally lends itself to that. – Dr. Jennifer Willett (University of Nevada, Reno)*

Learn more about the work of the AmeriCorps Research and Evaluation grantees.
          PreviousThree Steps to Protect College Students This FallNextShare with us: Access and Barriers to AmeriCorps’ Resources and Service Opportunities Back to main content Sign up to hear about our latest news, events, and opportunities.
  Sign up for our newsletter
    Footer about
  

        
        About
                            What We Do
                Our Impact
                Our Team
                Careers
                Agency OverviewFooter serve
  

        
        Serve
                            AmeriCorps
                AmeriCorps Seniors
                Volunteer
                Find Your FitFooter partner
  

        
        Partner
                            How it Works
                Funding OpportunitiesFooter Members & Volunteers
  

        
        Members & Volunteers
                            Your Benefits
                Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
                Alumni
                Safety and SecurityFooter grantees & sponsors
  

        
        Grantees & Sponsors
                            eGrants
                History Checks
                LitmosFooter newsroom
  

        
        Newsroom
                            News
                Blog
                Stories
                Events
                In the News
                Communication Resources
      Bringing Americans together to serve communities

Follow us
  
  1-800-942-2677
            
    help@americorps.gov
    USA.gov / Office of Inspector General / FOIA and Privacy Act / Federal Register notices / No FEAR Act/ Employee Whistleblower Rights / Contractor and Grantee Whistleblower Rights / Office of Special Counsel / STOCK Act / Fraud Alert

Accessibility / Privacy policy / Site map / Donate / Join

**AmeriCorps.gov**
An official website of AmeriCorps. Produced and published at taxpayer expense. 
 You are leaving AmeriCorps.gov
 The website you’re going to is not part of the AmeriCorps domain and may not be under AmeriCorps’ control. Its privacy and security practices and policies may differ from AmeriCorps’. AmeriCorps is not responsible for the link, nor does it endorse the content of the third-party website. Click on the continue button to proceed to the external website; otherwise click cancel to stay on AmeriCorps.gov.
 Cancel Continue