Building Bicultural Research Models for Community Health Research Projects

Case evidence from new studies in community-based participatory research (CBPR) demonstrate model processes for ensuring that culturally-diverse communities co-create research designs/methods that reflect both mainstream scientific methods but also the knowledge values and traditions of the cultural group involved in research. Some research designs may include questionnaires or focus groups but also cross-cultural activities such as ceremonies, gatherings or other interpersonal and environmental relational approaches to gaining knowledge. These bicultural methods demonstrate the strengths and valuable cultural contributions of these cultural groups to knowledge understandings. Previous research studies published in scientific/public health journals of cultural groups struggling with certain diseases or adverse health outcomes have been stigmatizing to these groups. These studies did not incorporate or demonstrate the cultural strengths and positive traditions of cultural groups but only highlighted their adverse conditions. The field of community research ethics offers new understandings to researchers to avoid such stigmatizing research reports and to benefit from the knowledge traditions of these cultural groups. Through case examples, ethics training materials and participant discussions, bicultural models of research will be presented and reviewed.