CBR Programs

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Community-Based Research (CBR)

Community-Based Research (CBR) is a collaborative approach to research that involves community members, organizational representatives, and researchers in all aspects of the research process. The goal is to combine knowledge and action for social change to improve community outcomes.

Basic Features of Community-Based Research (CBR)

CBR is:

1. Participatory: It involves the community as equal partners.
2. Action-oriented: It aims to address real-world community problems.
3. Contextual: Grounded in the community's culture, values, and needs.
4. Mutually beneficial: All partners gain knowledge or benefits from the process.

Rationale of Community-Based Research

Community-Based Research (CBR) exists to bridge the gap between academic research and real-life community needs. It offers a practical, inclusive way of doing research that is more responsive, democratic/Participatory, and impactful.

1. Relevance to Community Needs

•   -Traditional research often overlooks the actual concerns of local communities.
•    -CBR ensures that research addresses real problems identified by the community.

2. Empowerment and Capacity Building

• -CBR helps communities develop skills, confidence, and knowledge.
• -Local people are no longer "subjects" of research but active participants and co-researchers.

3. Democratization of Knowledge

• -Encourages the sharing of knowledge between academics and communities.
• -Respects local knowledge, experiences, and insights.

4. Social Justice and Inclusion

• -Focuses on marginalized or underrepresented groups.
• -Supports equity, advocacy, and change.

5. Improved Research Quality

• -Increases accuracy and cultural sensitivity by involving locals.
• -Results are more contextual, practical, and implementable.

6. Restoration Social and Traditional Knowledge

• -Restores the traditional social knowledge in the community in modern form.
• -Finds the effective and useful ways to utilize social knowledge.

7. Saving Community People from Conceptual Colonialism

• -Develops community awareness regarding conceptual colonialism.
• -Helps in building  pro-human and pro-justice worldview in the community.

Objectives of Community-Based Research

CBR aims to create research that is useful, inclusive, and transformative for communities.

1. Identify and Address Community Issues

• -Work with communities to pinpoint challenges and co-create solutions.
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 2. Promote Active Participation

• -Involve community members in every step of the research process — from planning to action.

3. Co-Create Knowledge

• -Blend academic methods with community insights to generate meaningful, credible findings.

4. Develop Practical Solutions

• -Use research to improve community services, policies, or practices.

5. Support Social Change

• -Translate research findings into advocacy, action, or policy change.

6. Build Sustainable Relationships

• -Foster long-term partnerships between communities and researchers.

7. Encourage Reflexivity

• -Promote self-awareness and mutual learning among both researchers and participants.
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How to Conduct CBR

Conducting CBR involves building strong partnerships, co-creating research questions, gathering and analyzing data collaboratively, and using results to create change. Key elements include:

1. Building relationships between researchers and community members.
2. Identifying community issues through inclusive discussions.
3. Designing the research collaboratively with all stakeholders.
4. Collecting and analyzing data together.
5. Sharing findings widely and implementing action.

Stages of Community-Based Research (CBR)

Here are the main stages:

1. Partnership Development

• -Goal: Build trust and equitable relationships.
• -Activities:
• I- Identify stakeholders.
• II- Clarify roles, responsibilities, and expectations.
• III- Develop communication strategies.
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2. Identifying the Research Problem

• -Goal: Choose an issue important to the community.
• -Activities:
• I- Hold community meetings or focus groups.
• II- Use community input to co-develop research questions.
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3. Research Design and Planning

• -Goal: Plan methods that are ethical and suitable for the community.
• -Activities:
• I- Select data collection methods (surveys, interviews, etc.).
• II- Ensure community members are trained and involved in data gathering.
• III- Obtain ethical approval if necessary.
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4. Data Collection

• -Goal: Gather information with community participation.
• -Activities:
• I- Use community-friendly methods.
• II- Involve local volunteers or leaders in data gathering.
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5. Data Analysis and Interpretation

• -Goal: Interpret data in ways that reflect community perspectives.
• -Activities:
• I- Analyze data with input from community partners.
• II- Validate findings through community feedback sessions.
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6. Dissemination of Results

• -Goal: Share findings with both academic and community audiences.
• -Activities:
• I- Use accessible formats (posters, workshops, newsletters).
• II- Translate research into action plans.
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7. Action and Change

• -Goal: Use findings to promote community development or policy change.
• -Activities:
• I- Implement programs or advocacy efforts based on research.
• II- Monitor the impact of actions taken.
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8. Reflection and Sustainability

• -Goal: Learn from the process and plan for ongoing collaboration.
• -Activities:
• I- Evaluate the research process.
• II- Discuss how the partnership can continue beyond the project.
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Conclusion

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