Theory and practice in participatory research: lessons from the Native Elder Care Study

Area of Science:

• Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR)
• Tribal Participatory Research (TPR)
• Gerontological Research

Background:

• Community-based participatory research (CBPR) models emphasize collaboration between academic researchers and communities.
• Existing CBPR models require adaptation to meet the unique needs of American Indian communities.
• Gerontological research in tribal settings presents specific challenges and requires culturally sensitive approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To recommend theoretical revisions and practical strategies for conducting gerontological research within tribal communities.
• To evaluate the suitability of the tribal participatory research (TPR) conceptual model for American Indian contexts.
• To identify key mechanisms for successful collaborative research between academic institutions and tribal communities.

Main Methods:

• Drawing upon the authors' direct collaboration with one American Indian tribe.
• Applying the principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR).
• Adapting and evaluating the tribal participatory research (TPR) conceptual model.

Main Results:

• The tribal participatory research (TPR) model is a strong, specialized adaptation of participatory research principles.
• Incorporating dissemination as a central mechanism is highly recommended for TPR.
• Collaborative projects can yield significant positive outcomes for both researchers and communities.

Conclusions:

• The tribal participatory research (TPR) model offers a valuable framework for gerontological research in American Indian communities.
• Dissemination should be a core component of tribal participatory research (TPR) to maximize impact.
• Researchers and communities must anticipate and prepare for both predictable and unique challenges in collaborative tribal research.