Research Preparation, Design, and Planning

Examine your biases (personal, societal, disciplinary, etc.) through self-reflection. Consider how those biases might create gaps within your research.

If you are not marginalized, commit to self-education about the fundamentals of racism and various forms of oppression. Gain knowledge surrounding your own biases through scholarly work, community-based engagement and speaking with peers, friends, and family members.

Identify the community or communities impacted by your research question, clarify their issues of concern and explore root causes.

Understand the systematic barriers that are part of established social programs and health care systems to exclude racialized and/or other socially marginalized populations.

Unpack ways in which lived experiences with racism experienced at multiple levels prevent individuals from engaging in social care interventions.

Identify collaborators (whether academic, practice, community, etc.) who have diverse lived experiences particularly related to racism and navigating social care and health services.

Build relationships with community partners (e.g., develop mutual respect, accept criticism, and earn trustworthiness) to enable you to check bias.

Collaboratively develop research questions and (SMART) goals. Include goals of value to the community to the extent that the community is committed to its future beyond the research project.

With community partners, develop a plan for how the study can be used to further community goals (e.g. advocacy goals, community health improvement initiatives).

Use asset-based framing in developing your research questions.

Develop a research protocol that gives voice and value to the community by prioritizing the perspectives of those with lived experiences.

Establish a timeline for community involvement throughout the process such that equal value is placed on community vs researcher expertise.

Include a plan for orientation for all individuals involved that includes sharing of history and values.

Include a mutually acceptable plan for monitoring/evaluating partnership development and project advancement as well as publication participation from inception.

Include plan for workforce development (e.g., training and opportunities for community members to build professional skills; training for research staff roles).

Include a mechanism for community or lived experience experts to have contact with funders.

Develop a data governance plan that considers data access and/or ownership inclusive of the community.