Research Training
In line with our commitment to engage and promote authentic community-based participatory research, Access Alliance established an in-house Peer Research Training Program. Through this innovative program, we develop and adapt training curriculum and resources as well as deliver training workshops that incorporate a wide spectrum of concepts and methods used in community-based researchi, including:
- the history and practice of community-based research
- social determinants of health
- dynamics of power and oppression and social location with racialized identity, gender, class, sexuality, citizenship status, ability, languages spoken, and more
- research methods such as interviews, focus groups and surveys
- arts-based research methods such as Photovoice and Digital Film making
- facilitation skills
- networking, dissemination and advocacy.
Our Peer Research Training Program is intended to reduce barriers and create equal ground for diverse community members to participate in and contribute their knowledge and skills to participatory research projects. Our goal is to enable community members to investigate issues that they feel are important, promote evidence-based actions to address these issues, and to produce practical curriculum and training materials appropriately situated within traditionally marginalized social locations for other programs to draw upon.
The program gives participants the opportunity to learn, teach and apply research methods in a way that is collaborative, participatory and presented in accessible language, using meaningful and practical case-studies.
Recent Activities
Between April 2008 and March 2009, 39 community members participated as peer researchers in our projects. Many of the peer researchers are actively involved from the planning and design phase of the project through to dissemination and follow up.
We have developed 19 training modules related to research, collaborative process, and facilitation. This included introductory level trainings on CBR and evaluation, co-learning sessions on immigrant and refugee health issues, as well as hands-on training on recruitment, research ethics, and how to conduct focus groups and interviews.
Over 95% of participants rank trainings as “very useful” or “useful.” As part of the Refugee Youth Health project, we have made our research training curriculum more youth-friendly and accessible. Further, we have developed many tools that enhance collaborative, participatory process in research including our own model of collaborative research design (CRD), photovoice tools (e.g., Investigative Photography, Social Change Photography), Body Mapping and Action Headlines exercises.
Recommended CBR Training Resources
Recommended Resources and Links
For more information please contact:
Farzana Propa
Research Administrator
research@accessalliance.ca
Tel: 416-324-8619 ext. 344
