The Equity-Centered Participatory Compensation Model (EPCM)

A key component of equity-focused research is centering marginalized voices throughout the entire research process. To fully integrate community voice, fair and flexible compensation for community members’ participation is required. Relying on equity and community-based participatory research principles, the Equity-Centered Participatory Compensation Model (EPCM) offers one method to ensure that compensation rates prioritize the well-being, comfort, and agency of research participants. This tutorial provides instructions for the implementation of a 4-step process through which researchers can shape their compensation practices to match the individual needs of their participants. We provide examples from our own project regarding how we mapped the compensation model to our research activities and include a rubric of best practices for applying equity principles to compensation rates. We conclude with suggestions for navigating institutional restrictions when implementing this new methodology. We intend for this model to serve as a methodological framework for future researchers to help promote equitable fiscal relationships with community participants.