A Practical Guide to Getting Started With Community-Engaged Research - Spectrum of Engagement

Spectrum of Community-Researcher Partnerships

Engagement and decision making are key concepts in CEnR, defining how community and research partners work together to achieve shared goals. Engagement describes the degree to which partners are involved in research activities, such as planning, collecting data, or sharing results; engagement ranges from simply being informed to co-creating knowledge. Decision making refers to the influence that partners have over important aspects of the research, like setting priorities, choosing methods, and applying findings. Together, engagement and decision making form the foundation of models that illustrate how CEnR partnerships operate and evolve over time.

In widely used CEnR models—such as Hart’s Ladder of Participation, the Continuum of Engagement in Research, and the Matrix of Contextual Alignment—CEnR partnerships are often described along a spectrum of engagement and decision making. These models highlight that partnerships are not static; rather, they evolve as goals, contexts, and capacities change. Built on a strong research foundation, these models offer practical guidance for shaping how community and researcher roles interact and intersect throughout a CEnR project.

Our spectrum of community-researcher partnerships integrates these ideas into five categories, emphasizing that projects often shift across categories as relationships deepen and needs evolve. For instance, a project may start with researchers consulting community members for feedback and later transition to a collaborative model as mutual trust and capacity grow. Recognizing this fluidity is key to designing a flexible and responsive CEnR project.

Defining the Five Categories of the Spectrum of Community-Researcher Partnerships

Spectrum of Community-Researcher Partnerships

Informed: Community partners are valued by research partners as a key audience for research findings.

• • Community role: Community partners stay informed about how the research is progressing and what its findings are, fostering awareness and understanding.
  • Researcher role: Research partners lead the project and proactively share information with community partners to ensure transparency and build trust.
  • Example: Researchers study how agricultural policy changes affect rural farming communities. They share findings with local farm bureaus and cooperatives, helping farmers advocate for policies that support sustainable land use and economic stability. While farmers are not directly involved in the study, the information supports their efforts to influence agricultural regulations and resources.

Consulted: Community partners serve as thoughtful and knowledgeable advisors to research partners throughout the research process.

• • Community role: Community partners provide insights and feedback that shape key aspects of the research, offering perspectives rooted in their experience.
  • Researcher role: Research partners actively seek out and integrate community partners’ input, ensuring that the research aligns with community needs and priorities.
  • Example: Researchers studying working college parents establish an ongoing advisory group of parenting students at a university. The group meets regularly to provide feedback on research questions, data collection methods, and findings. Their experiences guide the study’s focus on challenges like accessing child care or balancing schedules, ensuring that the research stays relevant and practical. The advisory group also reviews results and discusses implications for university policies.

Involved: Community partners are active partners in carrying out specific research activities.

1. • Community role: Community partners participate in tasks such as data collection, analysis, or dissemination, bringing unique skills and perspectives.
   • Researcher role: Research partners guide the research process while equipping community partners with the tools and support needed to contribute effectively.
   • Example: Community partners, including child welfare advocates, assist researchers by conducting interviews with foster parents to gather insights on access to mental health services for children in care. Researchers train and support community partners, ensuring ethical data collection. Once data are collected, researchers analyze the results and organize workshops with community partners to review findings, ensuring that their practical implications are well-understood. This research informs policy recommendations for improving trauma-informed services for foster families.

Collaborative: Community and research partners work as co-creators throughout the research process.

• • Community role: Community partners are involved in both decision making and implementation of the research, fostering shared ownership of the research.
  • Researcher role: Research partners share responsibilities and power with community partners, collaborating as equals to ensure mutual benefits.
  • Example: Teachers, families, and researchers co-develop a study to investigate factors that contribute to chronic absenteeism. Together, they decide on research questions, design surveys, and conduct focus groups with students. During data analysis, all partners contribute equally to interpreting the results. The group jointly develops an action plan to address barriers, such as improving transportation options and providing school meal programs. They share findings with school administrators and community organizations to influence long-term changes in attendance policies and practices.

Empowered: Community partners lead the research effort, with research partners serving as supportive advisors.

• • • Community role: Community partners take the lead to identify research goals, make decisions, and drive outcomes.
    • Researcher role: Research partners provide training, mentorship, and resources to empower the community in achieving its vision.
    • Example: A rural youth-led coalition examines barriers to vocational training and job opportunities in their community. They work with researchers to design surveys, gather input from local businesses, and analyze data with technical support. The coalition uses the findings to develop a policy brief advocating for expanded trade programs in high schools and investment in local job training centers. Researchers act as advisors, providing mentorship and helping amplify the coalition’s efforts through reports and presentations.