moving beyond rhetoric: knowledge, power & social change through community-based research
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Moving Beyond Rhetoric: Knowledge, Power & Social Change through Community-based Research. ACT research Day May 7, 2009 Josephine Pui-Hing Wong Committee of Accessible AIDS Treatment & University of Toronto. Community-based Research in Health (CBR). Mainstreaming? Buzzing rhetoric? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Moving Beyond Rhetoric: Knowledge, Power & Social Change
through Community-based Research
ACT research DayMay 7, 2009
Josephine Pui-Hing WongCommittee of Accessible AIDS Treatment
& University of Toronto
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Community-based Research in Health(CBR)
Mainstreaming?Buzzing rhetoric?Empowerment?
WHY TALK ABOUT IT?
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My basic assumptions:Human actions are NOT entirely
autonomous or totally conscious – we are autonomous within constraints
Power is exercised through ‘social relations’ and NOT held as a static entity
Social transformation to reduce human suffering and inequities is POSSIBLE
CRTICAL SOCIAL RESEARCH is one way to achieve emancipation and liberation
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CBR: Community & Research – What’s the link?
Community
Research
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UnpackingThe notion of ‘community’?
COMMUNITYsymbolic political
relational
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Community as ‘Symbolic’
The notion of ‘community’:
is general & imprecise
it gives way to our imaginations
it constructs meanings
it creates identities
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Community as ‘Political’The notion of ‘community’:
it constructs boundaries [insider /outsider]
‘community’ vs. ‘government’ or ‘academia’, etc.
it defines similarities & differences
it functions as a ‘discourse’ policy & practice
Community as ‘Relational’
CONTEXTS
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Unpacking the notion of ‘research’:
Rhetoric or Truth?
“Knowledge is power.”
“Programs & services must be based on evidence.”
“Research informs policy.”
Research as ‘process’ & ‘outcome’ The practical processes of CBR are
similar to other community capacity building processes – partnerships, resources & power relations
Equitable and empowering partnership is dependent on ‘mutual’ understanding in all aspects of the process, including how to define:research goals, topics, methods,
application of results, ownership of ‘knowledge’.
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Doing Research: A Question of Paradigms1. Our basic beliefs about the nature of
reality: What is ‘truth’? What can we know about ‘reality’ or ‘truth’?
2. The relationship between the knower and what is known or knowable: How can the knower find out what can be
known? What is the nature of knowledge?
(Isreal et al., 1998)
Does the chosen research paradigm reflect the values, beliefs & interests of your
‘community’?
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Social Research in HIV/AIDS: Tension in Paradigms
Positivistic ParadigmIndividuals have
autonomous choicesReality is stable and
can be generalized into cause & effects
Research as “neutral” assessment of what is true or untrue
Researchers as “objective” knowers not influenced by self-interests
Critical-Social Paradigm
Individuals have choices within social constraints
Reality is shaped by historical & social power relations unstable
Research is mediated by values & power
Researchers ‘reflexively’ apply theories & concepts to reveal “hidden” structures, ideologies & interests
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Mainstreaming of CBR: Critical questions remain
Is the research community ‘based’ or community ‘placed’?
What is the role for ‘community’ stakeholders?
How are the power ‘relations’ within the research structured?
Whose interests are at the heart of the research?
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The ABCs of Critical Community-based Research (CCBR) Acknowledge power relations in society Build on community strengths & equitable
partnerships (GIPA & MIPA**) Coherent paradigm & critique of social
inequities & oppressions Dialogical approach participatory Engage members in emancipatory action
and collective empowerment
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Critical Community-based ResearchCCBR
LOOKING TOGETHERFROM ABOVE; FROM WITHIN;
LOOKING IN FROM THE OUTSIDE;LOOKING OUT FROM THE INSIDE.
• Researchers • Service providers
• Community stakeholders & members
• Policy makers
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The Roots of CBR: Action & Emancipation
• Kurt Lewin (1948) – Action Research• Paulo Freire (Brazil); Orlando Fals- Borda
(Columbia); Rajesh Tandon (Asia) – Participatory Research -- emancipation
In other word, its roots were ‘critical’.
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Research as a Political Process:Struggles for limited resources & legitimacy
State
Academia
Activists
Research
PHAs, youth, LGBTTTQ, etc.
vv
vvvv
vv
knowledge
evidence
vv legitimacy& resourcesvvvv
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CCRB as a Social ProcessDialogue critical understanding of
individual and collective conditions of existence
Reveal ‘hidden’ structures sufferings of marginalized & oppressed groups
Reveal the ‘logic’ of social practice of both the dominant & the dominated groups
Identify and act on collective solutions – at individual, organizational & societal levels
Knowledge translation & exchange (KTE)is an integrated component of CCBR
Empowerment through CCRB: an example
Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment (CAAT)
A coalition of 30 Ontario based organizations, formed in 1999
Shared vision: health equity for marginalized PHAs
Goals: improve access through research-practice-policy integration
CAAT - http://www.hivimmigration.ca/index.html
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Transformation Through Collective Action: Best Practices in Migration, HIV and Mental Health Project
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2001: Action research on Access to HIV Treatment (funded by OHTN)• HIV Treatment Access Program (with PWA)
• HIV & Immigration Service Access Training (with RPCHC)• Access to legal information on immigration (with HALCO)
• research needs – mental health needs of IRN-PHAs
2004: Pilot study with immigrant, refugee & non-status people living with HIV/AIDS (IRN-PHAs) & service providers (funded by OHTN)• research topic identified by IRN-PHAs & service providers
• development of multi-component participatory action research
2005-7: Study on Best Practices in Migration, HIV and Mental Health2007-8: Knowledge Translation & Exchange (KTE) Project
(funded by OHTN & Wellesley Institute
Current: Engaging Ethnoracial Faith-based, Media & Social Justice Leaders to reduce HIV related stigma & discrimination (funded by OHTN).
CCBR Research & KTE in Action:
1. SharingLife
Experience
2. CapacityBuilding
3. ReportComponents 1&2
Research Findings
4. ConceptMapping I:Generate
Statements
5. ConceptMapping II:
RankingStatements
6. ConceptMapping III:
Interpretation
7. Best PracticesFramework
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• 22 IRN-PHAs• 6 research
team members
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Producing & sharing knowledge is NOT a new phenomenon …
Who should tell the stories & how?
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Knowledge Translation & Exchange (KTE) -Transformation Through Collective Action
• 5 IRN-PHA RA• 15 KTE Ambassadors
• service provider/researcher team
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CCBR as a Spiritual ProcessPlanting a seed for contemplation
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self-transcendence
connectedness
compassion forself & others
commitmentfor peace &
social justice
self-transcendence
connectedness
compassion for self & others
commitmentfor peace &
social justice
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• partnerships• collaboration• capacity-building• collective action
• self-reflexivity
• peer support
• advocacy• dialogue
• reveal & critique inequity & injustice
From “Lost in Translation” to “Flourished through Translation”.
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Engage in Community
ConsultationParticipate in
Research
Co-investigate evidence,Co-develop best practice
recommendations
TranslateKnowledge
to Action
KTE as an organic process through meaningful ‘community’ and PHA participation in every step of research
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