This course will provide an overview of Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and familiarize participants with key historical underpinnings and principles of CBPR practice. Methodological considerations for building and sustaining community partnerships; data gathering; data sharing, and action planning will be explored. We will also address matters of cultural competence and cultural humility; working with diverse populations; and ethical considerations in CBPR; and salient funding and Institutional Review Board (IRB) issues.
This course will be delivered through a web-based format with eight weekly on-line modules. On-line lectures, reading assignments, written assignments, and on-line forum discussion will be included in each module. Each new weekly session will be posted to the site by 12:01 AM EST on Wednesdays. The eighth session is only four days long; it begins on Wednesday but ends on Sunday.
PC 1 – Synthesize and incorporate scientific evidence into professional writing.
FC 6 – Discuss the means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.
FC 8 – Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs
FC 9 – Design a population-based policy, program, project or intervention
FC 13 – Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
Weekly discussions are designed to foster collaborative construction of knowledge and promote opportunities to discuss information relevant to the development of the final project. Each student is expected to contribute an original contribution of approximately 300-500 words to the discussion, followed by a minimum of two responses to further develop the discussion. Original contributions are due Sundays at 11:59 PM EST. Response posts are due Wednesdays at 11:59 PM EST. Please refer to the Discussion Guidelines for more information and the Rubrics for scoring criteria.
In Week 4, you will receive drafts of specific sections of the research proposal from two colleagues. You will follow a template to provide peer feedback on the development of the course’s final project. Feedback is due Sunday of Week 4 at 11:59 PM ET.
Self-Designed Research Proposal
The culminating course assignment requires you to apply key CBPR methodologies to a research proposal. From identifying an important health-related priority of a community of your choosing, to collaboratively determining an intervention or action plan with community stakeholders, you will develop each phase of the project. An authentic context in the form of a research proposal will give you both structure and freedom to experience the complex nature of effective CBPR implementation. Weekly course topics are aligned with elements of CBPR methodologies required in your research, allowing you to develop phases of your proposal as the course progresses. Weekly peer discussions are designed to allow practice with critical CBPR skills and concepts, and space to present data and information for the final project for feedback from your instructor and peers. A draft of specific sections of your proposal is due Sunday of Week 4 at 11:59 PM ET to receive targeted feedback from colleagues that supplements instructor guidance. Final proposals are due Sunday of Week 7 at 11:59 PM ET. Please see the rubrics for the Draft and Final Research Proposals for scoring criteria.
Written Reflection of CBPR Principles
At the end of the course, you will write a 500-word reflection on the continuum of community research. Due Sunday of Week 8 at 11:59 PM ET. Please see the rubric for scoring criteria.
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Assignment | Points | Total Points |
---|---|---|
Discussion Forums (Weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7) | 10 each | 60 |
Written Reflection of CBPR Principles (Week 8) | 5 | 5 |
Peer Feedback on Draft of Select Sections of Research Proposal (Week 4) | 10 | 10 |
Final Research Proposal (Week 7) | 25 | 25 |
Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Each week opens on Wednesday at 12:01 AM ET. Each week closes on Wednesday at 11:59 pm ET, with the exception of Week 8, which ends on Sunday.
Weekly Schedule:
*See Blackboard for required and recommended weekly readings, lectures, and videos.
Week 1: Defining Research and Historical Roots of CBPR
Learning Objectives
Required Readings
Required Lectures
Recommended Materials
Assignments
Week 1 Discussion: Analysis of CBPR Principles
Prior to completing this Forum Discussion assignment, please carefully read the details and guidance presented in the final project descriptor, Sections C and D are most relevant this week.
Initial Post:
In this first week of the course, you will complete the initial task of your research proposal: identify the community, the target population within that community, and the public health issue of concern. This is the focus of your “research problem.” Here are the major points to address in your original contribution to this forum:
[Note: Your instructor will approve your research problem or provide you with feedback to direct you towards any necessary changes.]
Response Posts:
In her presentation, Dr. Nina Wallerstein discusses a number of important topics to consider when conducting CBPR. Select one, such as, self-reflexivity, particularly related to ‘location of power’; social construction of knowledge; or health inequities vs. health disparities.
Week 2: Forming and Building Partnerships
Learning Objectives
Required Readings
Required Lecture
Recommended Materials
Assignments
Week 2 Discussion: Analysis of CBPR Principles: Collaboration, co-learning, and mutual benefit
Review the Discussion Guidelines before posting. Your discussion this week is particularly relevant to section Ei of your Final Project.
Initial Post:
Choose one of the case studies presented in the UC Berkeley/PolicyLink report. Describe how the following CBPR principles (shown on p. 13 of the report) were applied in the research presented in your chosen case study:
Response Posts:
Week 3: Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities
Learning Objectives
Required Readings:
Required Lectures and Videos
Recommended Materials
Assignments
Week 3 Discussion: Analysis of CBPR Principles: Attending to the multiple determinants of health
Initial Post:
Responses:
Keep in mind that you will be submitting a draft of Sections A-Eii of your research proposal next week. This week you are discussing information that will be particularly relevant to section D of your Final Project.
Week 4: Issues of Power in CBPR: Understanding the Impact of Race, Class, and Privilege
Learning Objectives
Required Readings
Required Lecture:
Recommended Materials
Assignments
Week 4 Assignment: Analysis of CBPR Principles: Peer Feedback on Research Proposal Draft (Sections A-Eii)
CBPR is based in collaborative work. This week you have the opportunity to receive and provide feedback on drafts of your proposals. The assignment has two parts:
You will be graded on the quality of the feedback you provide to your colleagues. Keep in mind that reading your colleagues’ work and providing substantive feedback is time-consuming, so plan to work on this early in the week to not be rushed in providing feedback.
1. Draft Proposal
Use the information we have been learning and discussing during the first four weeks to prepare a draft of the following sections of your research proposal for peer review: A, B, C, D, Ei, and Eii.
Submit your draft proposal to your peers for feedback through course messages (copy your instructor) no later than Sunday, 11:59 PM
Make sure to review the Final Project Document for a full description of the required sections (A, B, C, D, Ei, and Eii).
2. Peer Feedback
Use the attached Draft Research Proposal Feedback Template to provide detailed feedback to the two classmates who are assigned to send you their draft research proposals. Use a separate form for each colleague.
Return each completed feedback template to your colleague through course messages (copy your instructor) no later than Wednesday, 11:59 PM. Submit both completed feedback templates to Blackboard by Sunday, 11:59 PM.
Week 5: Engaging Communities in Research Design, Data Collection, Analysis, and Dissemination in CBPR
Learning Objectives
Required Readings
Required Lecture and Videos
Recommended Materials
Assignments
Week 5 Discussion: Analysis of CBPR Principles: Collaborative and participatory data methods
Prior to completing this Forum Discussion, you should review the Discussion Guidelines and Section Eiii of the final project descriptor.
Initial Post:
Consider the variety of data collection methods you have studied in prior courses and this week’s lectures and readings. Identify a peer-reviewed article that illustrates a data collection method used within a CBPR research study that you think would be appropriate for your research proposal.
For this week’s discussion, you may submit your initial post as either a written post or a 2-4 minute audio or video discussion of the above (no slides are required). The grading criteria are the same for written or oral presentation, and you must include an AMA citation for your article.
Responses:
Week 6: Engaging Communities to Disseminate Results and Plan for Action
Learning Objectives
Required Readings
Required Lecture and Videos
Recommended Material
Assignments
Week 6 Discussion – Analysis of CBPR Principles: Communication, information sharing, and joint decision making
Prior to completing this Forum Discussion, you should review the Discussion Guidelines and Section Eii of the final project descriptor.
Dr. Sam Kaner discusses the influence of individual and group dynamics on, and the natural challenges of, the decision-making processes within communities. He asserts, “Just because you have an inclusive, participatory process does not mean everybody has to be in on everything.”
Initial post:
Responses:
Week 7: Cultural Competence and Cultural Humility in CBPR
Learning Objectives
Required Materials
Required Lecture and Videos
Recommended Materials
Assignments
Week 7 Assignment: Research Proposal
Submit the final version of your research proposal. Make sure to review the Final Project Descriptor.
Proposal Format:
Due Sunday by 11:59 PM
Week 7 Discussion – Analysis of CBPR Principles: Cultural competence and cultural humility
Initial Post:
How did the researchers on the aboriginal CBPR project demonstrate cultural competence, as described by Isaacson?
Response Posts:
Week 8: Reflections on CBPR
Learning Objectives
Required Readings
Required Lectures
Assignments
Week 8 Assignment: Analysis of CBPR Principles: Continuum of community engagement in research
Now that you have reached the final week in the course, take another look at Nina Wallerstein’s presentation that was required viewing in Week 1. She describes the “Continuum of Community Research,” which refers to a researcher-community balance that promotes equitable partnerships and shared accountability.
Craft a well-written and persuasive essay that shows a clear understanding of the continuum of community research. Argue for why it is important to understand this continuum, and how it influences the research process and interpretation of research findings. Reflecting on your final project, where does your proposed research partnership fall along the continuum? Are you conducting research “on” a community, “in” a community, or “with” a community? To what extent are decisions made collectively? To what extent are decisions directed by community partners? What changes, if any, would you make to move your partnership closer to the “with” end of the continuum, or otherwise strengthen the partnership according to Wallerstein’s lecture?
Essay format:
Due Sunday by 11:59 PM
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