An Exploration of the Effect of Community Engagement in Research on Perceived Outcomes of Partnered Mental Health Services Projects

Dmitry Khodyakov, Susan Stockdale, Felica Jones, Elizabeth Ohito, Andrea Jones, Elizabeth Lizaola

ResearchPosted on rand.org Nov 1, 2011Published in: Society and Mental Health, v. 1, no. 3, Nov. 2011, p. 185-199

Mental health research projects address sensitive issues for vulnerable populations and are implemented in complex environments. Community-based participatory research approaches are recommended for health research on vulnerable populations, but little is known about how variation in participation affects outcomes of partnered research projects. We developed a conceptual model demonstrating the impact of community engagement in research on outcomes of partnered projects. We collected data on key constructs from community and academic leaders of 21 sampled partnered research projects in two cycles of a research center funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. We conducted empirical analyses to test the model. Our findings suggest that community engagement in research is positively associated with perceived professional development as well as political and community impact.

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Document Details

  • Copyright: American Sociological Association
  • Availability: Non-RAND
  • Year: 2011
  • Pages: 15
  • Document Number: EP-201100-287

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