A Practical Guide to Getting Started With Community-Engaged Research - 5Rs Framework
The 5Rs Framework of Effective CEnR
Building on the spectrum of community-researcher partnerships, we introduce the 5Rs of Effective CEnR—Representation, Relationships, Reflexivity, Responsibility, and Resources—along with related questions to help researchers reflect on how they collaboratively design, implement, and assess their work. These principles capture the experiences of Child Trends researchers, as well as key ideas from well-established models. These principles encourage critical reflection on key aspects of a project, such as community experiences with research, available resources, decision-making roles, and shared goals, ensuring that both partners remain actively involved throughout the process.
Effective CEnR relies on trust, mutual respect, and meaningful engagement, with community members and researchers contributing to how the work is carried out. By promoting ongoing reflection, the 5Rs help partners address challenges, adapt to changing circumstances, and strengthen ethical relationships, leading to more collaborative processes for all involved.
Purpose of the 5Rs Framework
The 5Rs Framework offers a practical guide for researchers to reflect on their collaborative approach to designing, carrying out, and evaluating their work. For example, an education researcher exploring student engagement through a CEnR project could use the 5Rs to assess the degree to which their advisory board of teachers, families, and students are represented in project planning; whether relationships are being nurtured through regular collaboration; and whether the research process includes space for mutual learning and shared decision making. The researcher could further reflect on whether responsibilities—such as data collection or interpretation of results—are shared between researchers and community partners, and whether sufficient resources are provided to support advisory board involvement. By regularly using the 5Rs as a guide, researchers can identify gaps, adjust their approach, and build stronger partnerships.
Defining the 5Rs of Effective Community-Engaged Research
The 5Rs Framework of community-engaged research
Representation
Highlights the importance of actively involving individuals and groups in all stages of the CEnR project. This principle underscores the value of community perspectives and knowledge in shaping the research process.
- Reflection questions:
- Who has the opportunity to engage in the project? Who is missing, and how can the project engage them?
- How does the project’s culture (e.g., norms, expectations, roles, responsibilities, setting, and relationships) influence engagement? What steps have been taken to align the project’s culture with the community’s values and practices?
- What barriers impact engagement (e.g., child care, time, compensation, accessibility, transportation, language, mistrust, gatekeeping, lack of relationships)? What has been done to remove those barriers?
- How might the community’s history with research and research institutions influence the current approach?
- Are there structures in place to ensure that community perspectives are actively sought and integrated?
Relationships
Emphasizes the unique expertise of both community and research partners, fostering mutual respect and trust. This principle underlines the importance of building strong partnerships, establishing shared goals, and prioritizing engagement throughout the CEnR project.
- Reflection questions:
- What is the history of relationships between community and research partners and what efforts are being made to strengthen them?
- How are trust and mutual respect being cultivated throughout the project?
- How are roles, group norms, and relationship-building activities being established and maintained?
- What communication channels are being used to ensure transparency and accessibility for all partners?
- How are potential conflicts between community and research partners identified and addressed throughout the project?
Reflexivity
Focuses on ongoing self-assessment of biases, assumptions, and practices to ensure contextual appropriateness in the CEnR project. This principle guides research and community partners to critically evaluate their roles, decisions, and actions throughout the project.
- Reflection questions:
- To what extent is the project motivated by the needs of the community it’s intended to serve, and to what extent is it meeting those needs?
- How are research and community partners reflecting on their own biases, preferences, and understandings?
- What steps are being taken to ensure mutual learning and growth throughout the project?
- How are ethical considerations like data ownership, community autonomy, and mutual benefits being addressed?
Responsibility
Centers on ensuring that the project aligns with community needs, adapts to evolving priorities, and is effectively executed. This principle emphasizes transparency, shared responsibility, and aligning roles with all partners’ expertise and capacity to foster engagement and accountability.
- Reflection questions:
- What processes are in place to ensure that the project is responsive to community needs and leads to sustainable outcomes?
- How is power being shared in decision-making processes and how is this being communicated to all partners?
- Who is implementing the project activities, and are their roles clearly defined and communicated?
- How are responsibilities aligned with all partners’ strengths and capacities?
- What structures, including communication strategies, are in place to maintain accountability?
Resources
Refers to the time, funding, and infrastructure needed to support an effective community-researcher partnership. This principle includes developing skills, knowledge, and processes that enable meaningful engagement by all partners while addressing sustainability.
- Reflection questions:
- What are the time and cost implications for those engaged in the project?
- Are all contributors appropriately compensated for their time and expertise?
- To what extent do organizational processes (e.g., accounting, human resources, institutional review board) need to shift to support the project?
- What types of training are needed to help community and research partners engage in the project?
- How do the resources and time available align with the level of engagement and decision making required?
- What measures are in place to ensure long-term sustainability?
Ethics in CEnR
Ethics is a cornerstone of CEnR. Ethical considerations go beyond traditional research ethics to include community-specific principles that prioritize autonomy, transparency, and traditions. Key ethical practices in CEnR include the following:
- Autonomy: Community partners should feel safe and able to participate in research processes aligned with their own values and goals. Respecting community autonomy means avoiding exploitative practices, such as extracting data without meaningful involvement, misrepresenting findings, or using community knowledge without reciprocating value.
- Transparency: Clear and honest communication is essential for building trust. Transparency includes sharing data ownership, ensuring that community partners understand research goals, and being accountable for meeting agreed-upon commitments.
- Traditions: Researchers should understand and honor the community’s traditions, beliefs, and history to build trust and avoid harm.