(PS9-21) Ethnographic Research and Community Engagement: A Case Study Approach to Strengthen Community-based Research

Community-engaged research (CEnR) can be difficult to navigate effectively due to its malleability and variability of both the community and the issues being addressed. When done intentionally, community-based research envelopes all levels of the socio-ecological model and leads to systematic change (Irby et al., 2021). A community-centered approach becomes particularly important when discussing community-based trauma, such as intimate partner violence. The community’s role is essential as the recovery of trauma survivors is the responsibility of everyone in that community (Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative | Overview, 2022). As such, we will discuss the community engaged research strategies used in a project that focused on the development, functionality, and validity of a measure designed to help first responders respond to coercive control.

The project’s development included survey dissemination and focus groups with 79 first responders over the age of 18 within the United States. Data collection and analyses were both quantitative and qualitative and was collected throughout 2023. Participants were asked about their experiences responding to IPV, their thoughts on the developed measure, and how they thought it should best be implemented. The average age of participants was 43.89 (SD = 11.44) years, with 66.7% identifying as female and 25% as male. 50% of participants had been employed in this field for 13 or more years.

One theme we identified is to center the voices of the participants. For example, while the researchers had the initial assumption that the measure would be used by law enforcement, the majority of respondents suggested that other service providers, such as social workers, probation officers, case managers, and child protective service workers, would be more likely to successfully use the measure as intended.  A second theme we identified is to address communication challenges, role expectations, and conflicting priorities when garnering feedback from participants. This theme included navigating various barriers such as how to address the complex relationships between different formal supports (such as law enforcement and domestic violence advocates). Additional results will be discussed, particularly surrounding common barriers or difficulties with ensuring a community-centered, trauma-informed approach at each step of the research process and based on the researchers experiences with the project.

Findings from this study highlight how to engage in CEnR and the impact this approach may have on the quality of research findings. The presentation will highlight best practices researchers should engage in to conduct impactful work within their communities. Limitations to generalization exist, as the paper is based on one example of how to conduct community-based research. We hope that by exploring these themes, we will provide a roadmap to the successful inclusion of communities within research, ensuring that interventions are centered around community needs and perspectives.