Dialogical action: moving from community-based to community-driven participatory research

Area of Science:

• Community-based participatory research
• Public Health
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• Community-based research (CBR) emphasizes community member involvement for improved outcomes.
• Traditional CBR approaches require re-evaluation to foster mutual expertise and avoid objectifying participants.
• Existing definitions of community health, focus groups, and dissemination in CBR need critical assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine definitions of community health, focus groups, and dissemination within CBR.
• To introduce dialogical action as an innovative methodology for CBR.
• To foster dynamic, evolving dialogue among diverse stakeholders in research.

Main Methods:

• Assessment of existing CBR definitions and methodologies.
• Introduction and application of dialogical action, a novel approach.
• Utilizing an urban case study to illustrate the methodology.

Main Results:

• Dialogical action facilitates a more equitable and dynamic exchange between campus and community stakeholders.
• The approach moves beyond traditional focus groups to create a continuous dialogue.
• Case study demonstrates the potential for mutual construction of knowledge.

Conclusions:

• A reconsideration of CBR ethos is necessary for true community engagement.
• Dialogical action offers a promising alternative to traditional focus group methods.
• This approach can enhance accountability and the relevance of research findings.