Dr. Obumneke Amadi

Practice-Based Research: CBPR as a Vehicle for Social Change

Participatory Action Research

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a term also referred to as

participatory action research is described as a systemic investigation that includes the

collaboration of the people being studied for a particular problem for the reason of training and

taking action for a social change(Minkler, & Wallerstein, 2008, p.336). However, it is regarded

as a means of making people involved in the problem to take control of research process so they

can transform their lives by themselves. The approach is also identified as appealing to

institutions politics like labor unions that are used in influencing workplace policies & practice

(Minkler, & Wallerstein, 2008, p.336).

The Case Study Description

The case study: Participatory Action Research With Hotel Room Cleaners in San

Francisco and Las Vegas: From Collaborative Study to the Bargaining Table. The case study

grew out of concerns by about the high rates of injuries and disability experienced by low-wage

hotel service workers in San Francisco and other large tourist workers for the purpose of

addressing their working conditions. In order to initiate a research, the hotel labor union

“UNITE HERE” organized partners to get involved in a participatory research effort to examine

the problem. The Initial partners and research collaborators include Berkeley’s School of Public

Health, the Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP), hotel room cleaners and others.

However, a CBPR approach was used by the investigators by following its guidelines to collect

proper data which was used in collaboration with the organizations, the people and the work

union to implement policies that brought about social change for the deprived and marginalized

employees (Minkler, & Wallerstein, 2008, p.336, Chang, 2010).

Critique of CBPR Approach in Pushing Forward Policy Social Change in the Case Study

CBPR approach was very consistent and reliable towards pushing forward policy to

create a social change in the case study because, the approach facilitated the research process by

identifying all potential collaborators and partners who are knowledgeable about the problem and

the research process. The researchers applied CBPR approach by gathering the necessary

resources such as donated funds towards the project through it completion, trainings for

collaborators involved in the project, contracting university LOHP to look at organization work

load, health, and employee – employer relationship, moreover, the LOHP are recognized for

their work at policy level to progress prevention strategies and has strong record of collaboration

in CBPR. Other CBPR steps that include, defining the problem, planning and designing the

research, elements and data selection, data analysis, and result dissemination were all

implemented appropriately to guide policy creation. The translation of study data to implement

action for change was deliberated further by engaging a focus group and survey results from core

group members and study participants who attended union meetings and presented their finding

and personal experiences at the bargain table for a vote to influence the desired positive changes

in the hotel policy (Minkler, & Wallerstein, 2008).

In summary, CBPR is an opportunity to have a real voice in decision making regarding

the problems affecting people, which is a good mechanism for addressing some of the social

inequalities, and health disparity affecting employees at all levels in their work organizations.

Reference

Chang, C. Y (2010). Evaluation and Adaptations of a Community-Based Participatory Research

Partnership in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Retrieved from

https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0wk9x7nq#page-13

Minkler, M., & Wallerstein, N. (Eds.). (2008). Community-based participatory research for

health: From process to outcomes (2nd ed.).