What is CBR?
Community-based research is collaborative, change-oriented research that engages faculty members, students, and community partners in projects that address a community-identified need. In 2003, with support from the Jesse Ball duPont Fund and the United Way of Central Virginia, it became a new direction for the CCDSJ to create CBR partnerships between college faculty and students and local non-profits.CBR projects are a departure in some respects from conventional research, most notably in that they
- are generated by needs articulated by community partners that are actively engaged throughout the research process
- are conducted with and for, not on,members of a community
- are designed with the goal of achieving positive social change and social justice
- engage students in the community,
- and promote long-term relationships with community partners.
Why do CBR?
Benefits for Students and Faculty
- CBR is a highly effective mode of teaching, learning, and empowerment for everyone involved.
- As equal members of CBR research teams, students learn how to listen to others, deliberate about problems and issues, arrive at solutions mutually, and work together to implement the solutions.
- Students acquire technical knowledge, information, and familiarity with the community.
- CBR enriches traditional academic coursework, increases sense of empowerment, provides a greater understanding of social problems, and integrates academics and service.
- Enhances faculty member’s teaching credentials.
- Provides an outlet for producing publishable research, while also being useful to the local community.
- Improves the college’s community-image which will help in recruiting and retaining students.
Benefits for Community Partners
- Training and resources brought to the table by the college are transferred to the community partner such that the organization may become self-sufficient and research-capable.
- Collaboration influences the quality of the research.
- CBR studies can be used for program improvement, grant writing and other fund procurement, community education, public policy advocacy, and outcomes measurement. Collaboration with the college for these projects can support the organization’s capacity to do these things.
- Mobilizes additional resources to fulfill organizational mission.
- Shifts focus away from the internal operations of the organization to a community-focused view and a long-term approach to improving the quality of life in the community.
- Improve the ability of the community partner to make more strategic decisions about their operations and the programs they offer.
LC faculty, reference the 6 Project Steps for Faculty to see how you can become involved.