Social scientists, including sociologists, sometimes use their research skills to work on projects within their communities. The goal of this research is often to improve conditions for some part of the population and to help community groups gather insight that they might not otherwise be able to collect themselves.

Community-Based Research and Participatory Action Research

Community-based research takes place in community settings and involves community members in the design and implementation of research projects. Research projects involve collaboration between researchers and community partners. This type of research aims to benefit the community by achieving social justice through social action and change (SFSU n.d.).

Community-based research is sometimes called participatory action research (Stringer 2007). In partnership with community organizations, you utilize your social science research skills to help assess needs, outcomes, and provide data that can be used to improve living conditions. The research is often published in professional reports and presented to the board of directors for the organization you are working with. The term “action research” suggests that we make a plan to implement changes. Often with academic research, we aim to learn more about a population and leave the next steps up to others. This is an important part of the puzzle, as we need to start with knowledge, but action research often has the goal of “fixing” something, or at least quickly translating the newly acquired findings into a realistic solution for a social problem.

Community-based action research is rigorous research developed from empirical findings. At times, this research uses an interpretive framework (this reflective approach is discussed in Frameworks Shaping Sociological Research). It engages people who have traditionally been referred to as “subjects” as active participants in the research process. The researcher works with the organization throughout the process and will likely bring in different project design elements based on the needs of the organization. As a social scientist, you may have more formalized training, but you must draw both on existing research/literature and the goals of the organization you are working with. Community-based research, or participatory research, can be thought of as an orientation for research rather than strictly a method. Often, multiple methods are used to collect data. Change can often be one of the main aims of the project (e.g., how to improve access to housing). Think of this as a practical outcome related to the lives or work of research participants (Kemmis and McTaggart 1988; Anderson, Herr, and Nihlen 1994; and Reason 1994).

Community-based research projects can benefit the community in a variety of ways, but there are a few considerations researchers and organizations should consider before entering into a partnership. For example, limited financial resources may make it difficult to complete projects promptly or at all. For projects that include collaboration between universities (faculty and students) and community organizations, the groups may have different timelines and goals. Projects may take longer to complete than one quarter or semester, which means there may be turnover in the research team. Researchers also need to consider the readiness of communities to undertake research that may challenge current practices.

In the next sections, we will look at some examples of how ethnographic fieldwork has been used in community-based research and social action efforts both locally and internationally. A quick examination of your local community in Oregon demonstrates how social science research methods are applied in the region. Consider how the case shared in the next section reveals the consequences of interlocking systems of oppression.

Research in the Community

Research is not always equitable, but it impacts our society, our local communities, and us as individuals in a multitude of ways. Let’s examine one instance.

Lisa Saldana, a clinical psychologist, uses social research methods to address the needs of children who are referred to the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) or child protective services. A disproportionate number of these children come from families with substance use disorder or a drug-related referral, such as neglect (Saldana 2016). Psychology and sociology tend to have different points of analysis, with sociologists focusing on societal issues and patterns and psychologists focusing on the brain and the mind. Saldana used a sociological approach to her research, focusing on the micro-experience of the individual within the mesosystem and macrosystem (family and ODHS, respectively) to address societal issues that increased referrals to child protective services.

Saldana’s (2021) qualitative research resulted in the formation of Families Actively Improving Relationships (FAIR), a community-based program that provides services to people where they live and work. FAIR’s treatment program focuses on mental health, parenting, substance use disorder, and ancillary needs. Clinicians meet the clients wherever they can, whether that’s McDonald’s, the park, their home, or homeless shelters. This integral part of the program seeks to address the barriers often found within these communities, such as poverty, lack of access to transportation, and unemployment.

One of the barriers Saldana was surprised by was the insistence by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) that only women be allowed to participate in the trial. On the surface, this seems to challenge the exclusion of women in social research. However, when we examine this through Dorothy Smith’s (1990) theoretical framework, we realize that this gender restriction continues to objectify women and excludes men as fathers and their experiences within the system.

Following the successful trial, Saldana and her team received requests from the community to continue their work. As a result of the research, they opened a funded clinic in a Medicaid-billable environment in Lane County. This project allowed FAIR to be accessed by more individuals, including men. The rate of success for men was approximately the same as that for women, allowing families to grow and remain together, which benefits not only the children and the parents, but also society as a whole.

While this new clinic allowed more individuals to be reached and engaged, it was only for people who had co-occurring mental health and substance use problems and were also looking for or needing parent skills training. Saldana, her team, and community members realized that there were more individuals who needed support and assistance but were ineligible for existing services as they were not currently misusing opioids or methamphetamine.

Employing semi-structured interviews with graduated FAIR parents and current or former FAIR clinicians, the FAIR program was adapted to create a prevention-oriented intervention (PRE-FAIR). PRE-FAIR is currently in its efficacy trial in Benton, Douglas, Linn, and Lane counties. These efficacy trials would not be in place today without the use of social science research methods. We rely on social science research to help us identify the needs of people in our communities.

Saldana’s work showcases the unique and often unexpected ways research impacts or fails to impact various populations and identities due to ingrained biases, objectification, and oppression.

Licenses and Attributions for Community-Based Research

Open Content, Original

“Community-Based Research” by Jennifer Puentes is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

“Research in the Community” by Sonya James is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

“Activity: A Closer Look at Participatory Research” by Jennifer Puentes is adapted from “Participatory Action Research” by Vera Institute of Justice, shared under the Standard YouTube License and is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Modifications include adding questions.

All Rights Reserved Content

“Community-based research” definition is adapted from San Francisco State University included under fair use.

Figure 3.8. “Participatory Action Research” by Vera Institute of Justice is shared under the Standard YouTube License.