Innovations in Health Promotion and Community-Based Participatory Research

Community-based participatory research is not a specific qualitative or quantitative research method but rather an orientation to research; there is no single approach to CBPR. Rather, this orientation to research encompasses an array of diverse approaches to community-based research that have been refined and improved over time. Innovation in community-based research and the development of creative approaches for engaging and empowering community members are hallmarks of CBPR, as they have been over the past decade or two.⁴

The incorporation of photovoice, a method of telling personal community stories through photographs, into CBPR studies highlights the creativity of the CBPR approach.⁴-^21-23 Photovoice is especially useful as a method of health needs assessment and fits well with CBPR principle of equitable partnership. When Casteden et al.²⁴ used photovoice in a CBPR project conducted with an indigenous community in Canada, the researchers found that the process was culturally relevant, fostered trust between researchers and community members, and created a sense of ownership regarding the information that was collected.²⁴ Other researchers have incorporated community arts events into CBPR projects. Chung et al.²⁵ collected survey data at art events in an African American community in Los Angeles as part of a CBPR project on depression care. The researchers used photography exhibits, group discussions, and story readings as catalysts for responses that were obtained through the survey.²⁵