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Community Based Research Training for Peer Researchers 

Graphic illustration of 2 women working together on research. One woman is sitting, the other is standing at a whiteboard with post-it notes attached. Both are looking at the post-it-notes.

Access Alliance research activities are guided by these three key objectives: 

  • Conduct Research – Lead research and research-like activities focused on generating knowledge, building capacity, and mobilizing knowledge for advocacy for overcoming health disparities faced by newcomers and racialized groups. 
  • Collaborate on Research – Innovate, utilize and promote Community Based Research (CBR) methods with academia and mainstream researchers where newcomers and racialized communities are active partners in research and are agents of change promoting health equity. 
  • Policy Advocacy – Disseminate research evidence (internally and externally) that leads to building healthy services and public policies that promote health equity. 

We have an established Research and Evaluation department. We have an extensive history of training Fellows, Peer Researchers, Students, and Volunteers to conduct effective CBR. We are a trusted research collaborator working with influential and academic organizations such as the University of Toronto, York University, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital and the University Health Network. We promote our experience and evidence as knowledge mobilization opportunities with the targeted audience(s). Supported by experts in evaluation, knowledge mobilization, data management, our department is led by Dr. Akm Alamgir, a mixed-method researcher (currently Adjunct Professor with York University). 

Training Peer Researchers

Our training introduces Peer researchers, researchers in the community with lived experience or working with the population of interest, to ethical CBR practice. In this training we provide an overview of the research process from conceptualization to design a research protocol a research protocol, collection of sensitive data or collection of data from sensitive populations, basics of analyzing data, basics of analyzing data, interpreting the results in accessible format, and knowledge mobilization. Trainees gain an understanding and knowledge base of the research process. Our training is interactive with discussion, mentorship, and support throughout. 

We use this curriculum to train our own Fellows, Peer Researchers, Students, and Volunteers at Access Alliance. We train internationally trained researchers to integrate into mainstream Canadian research. We also train others on request, such as PHAC staff, other CHC staff, or members of the community.  

What We Offer 

Comprehensive Training 

Our Comprehensive Training package offers 54 hours of interactive facilitated sessions including 28 hours of assignment and hands-on training, self-reading, TCPS 2-Core certification, and manuscript writing skills. 

Learning Outcome:  

TCPS2-core universal certification + Access Alliance certification of completion on: 

  • collecting PHIPA-consistent sensitive data from sensitive sub-set of the population 
  • understanding CBPAR, Peer-led/ peer-engaged research  
  • mixed-methods research including arts-based research 
  • Data security protocols, collecting sensitive data (e.g. gender, sexual orientation, etc.), and safe data storage and transport. 

We also provide: 

  • Hands-on practice/ discussion on quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis 
  • intelligent verbatim transcription 
  • principles of qualitative & quantitative data analysis, interpretation as themes, and  
  • principles of knowledge mobilization including writing a report.  

Our comprehensive Peer Research training curriculum includes these modules: 

  • Introduction and Conceptualization – Peer-Led Research and CBR at Access Alliance 
  • Marginalized Participants’ Rights in Research 
  • Review of Literature – Challenges and Interrater Variability 
  • Conceptualization – Research and Community Based Research – Power Structure in Research 
  • Ethics in Community Based Research 
  • Research Design for Evidence Generation – Qualitative Sample Size 
  • Research Design for Evidence Generation – Quantitative Sample Size 
  • Data Collection – Collection of Sensitive Data from Vulnerable Population 
  • Data Collection – Focus Groups and Interviewing 
  • Fundamentals of Quantitative Data Analysis 
  • Data Processing and Analysis – Collaborative Data Analysis 
  • Writing Reports and Manuscripts 
  • Fundamentals of Qualitative Data Analysis 
  • Knowledge Mobilization 

We offer standard training packages outlined below. We can also work with you to create and customize the training to meet your needs and budget. 

Abridged Training 

Our Abridged Training is made up of 14 hours of interactive facilitated sessions plus 7 independent (mentored) hours for self-reading and completing the free online TCPS 2-Core certification.  

Learning Outcome:  

TCPS2-core universal certification + Access Alliance certification of completion on: 

  • collecting PHIPA-consistent sensitive data from sensitive sub-set of the population 
  • understanding CBPAR, Peer-led/ peer-engaged research  
  • mixed-methods research including arts-based research 
  • Data security protocols, collecting sensitive data (e.g. gender, sexual orientation, etc.), and safe data storage and transport. 

View our Peer Researcher Training Handbook for an overview of our Comprehensive Training curriculum:

Copy of Peer Researcher Training Handbook – revised February 2025Download

For more information, please contact us at research@accessalliance.ca.