What Is CBPR?

Welcome to Module 1! This module will introduce you to Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), a collaborative approach that brings researchers and communities together as equal partners throughout the research process. Instead of researchers working in isolation, CBPR centers community priorities, values shared decision-making, and builds long-term, sustainable relationships. It’s not a single method, but a way of doing research that promotes equity, trust, and real-world impact. Even if a full CBPR approach isn’t possible, you can still apply its principles—like transparency, inclusion, and co-learning—to make your research more relevant and responsive to community needs.

Note: You can turn on closed captions by clicking the CC button on the video player navigation bar.

If you have trouble watching the lectures due to a slow Internet connection, try downloading the lecture or the transcript listed below each video. Right click the link and select "Save Link as" to download.

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, you will be able to:

  • Define what a CBPR approach is (and what it is not).
  • Explain how a CBPR approach addresses challenges of more traditional research approaches.
  • Describe how to incorporate a CBPR approach into research projects.

Video: Introduction to the Course & CBPR (10 minutes)

In this video by Lisa Vaughn, you'll learn about the history of CBPR and how it relates to other participatory research approaches. 

Downloads: Video (20 MB), Audio(5 MB), Transcript

Activity: Asthma Case Study (15 minutes)

Let’s begin this course with a case study of a community research project focused on asthma.

Some university researchers received funding for a three-year study to evaluate the impact of various strategies to reduce environmental triggers for asthma. The goal was to recruit families with a child who had asthma in one of two public housing sites in an urban area. Two local outreach workers conducted the intervention.

The researchers approached two tenant associations to recruit families. The families said that they were tired of studies that didn't benefit them and didn't address their everyday concerns. The researchers assured them this is not that kind of project. Researchers explained that this project will provide job opportunities for outreach workers. Each family will receive a vacuum cleaner and some household supplies to reduce asthma triggers. So, the tenants thought about it, and they agreed to participate.

In terms of budget, 20% of the funding supported the 12-month intervention, which included:

  • A baseline assessment conducted by the outreach worker with a caregiver
  • Monthly outreach worker visits, and
  • A final home visit for an end point assessment at the end of the study.

After conducting their study, the researchers presented the findings to the tenant associations. The program was successful, reducing environmental triggers and asthma symptoms. The tenants were excited by these results and asked how the work could be continued. The research replied that NIH funding ran out, so there was no money to continue the work.

When tenants asked how much funding was allocated to outreach workers versus university researchers, the researchers said they didn’t know. The tenants then asked how this financial information could help identify resources to sustain the program. In response, the researchers explained that they intended to publish the findings in peer-reviewed journals. They thanked the tenants for their collaboration and expressed interest in working together on future community-based projects.

Video: What Is CBPR (12 minutes)

In this video, Dr. Lisa Vaughn and Dr. Keshet Ronen introduce community-based participatory research (CBPR) and describe how it differs from a traditional research approach. As you watch this video, think about the asthma case study. If the researchers had used a CBPR approach, how might the study have gone differently?


Downloads: Video (22 MB), Audio (5 MB), Transcript

Reading: CBPR in Context of Action Research (10 minutes)

Let’s take a closer look at where CBPR fits in with the action research “family”. You may already be using participatory or action research methods but calling them something different. Click on each exclamation point to read more about each type of action research.

Discussion (20 minutes)

In a few sentences, introduce yourself (name, role, and organization you work for), list what communities are you a part of, and describe what communities would you like to work with.

After posting, read through your classmates' introductions and reply to at least one person who shares a similar challenge or interest. Please post to the discussion forum by Sunday, 12 July, at 11:59 pm PT.

Go to Discussion

Video: The CBPR Process (9 minutes)

In the last video, you learned that CBPR fosters authentic, long-term partnerships between academic researchers and communities through shared decision-making and mutual respect. In this video, Dr. Lisa Vaughn will talk about the characteristics of CBPR and describe how to apply a CBPR approach to your research.

Downloads: Video (19 MB), Audio (4 MB), Transcript

Activity: Is CBPR Right For You? (15 minutes)

This worksheet will help you figure whether the CBPR approach is right for you by assessing your situation and the skills of you and your team. This activity is optional and ungraded.

Reading: CBPR in Kenya: The OSCAR Project (10 minutes)

Let’s explore how community-based participatory research (CBPR) teams engage communities as equal partners in research and action. This reading summarizes the 2013 article Harnessing the power of the grassroots to conduct public health research in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study from western Kenya. Click on each yellow circle to read about this project.

Reading: Module Summary (5 minutes)

This module introduced you to community-based participatory research (CBPR), which takes a collaborative approach to research, centers community priorities, and strives to equalize power between researchers and communities. The traditional research model has many challenges, including lack of external validity, one-way transfer of knowledge, inaccessible language, power centralized in the research institutions, lack of program sustainability, and low trust. CBPR addresses each challenge by fostering equitable partnerships, honoring community knowledge, and promoting shared decision-making between academic researchers and communities. Ultimately, CBPR reshapes the research process into a collaborative effort that emphasizes community priorities and builds lasting impact.

CBPR is not a method. It's an overall approach to research – a way of doing research that results in improved reach, rigor, and relevance. The ultimate purpose of CBPR is to eradicate health disparities through action and social change. A CBPR approach builds and sustains real partnerships with communities. CBPR is grounded in equity, ensuring that participation is not only collaborative but also genuinely inclusive and respectful of all partners.

It’s also important to recognize that even if it’s not feasible to conduct research in a way that fully meets the definition of CBPR, you can conduct CBPR-informed research—where you infuse the characteristics, the values of CBPR into a project, and build from there.

Quiz (15 minutes)

The quiz is due Sunday, 12 July, at 11:59 pm PT.

Late submissions will not be penalized.

Go to Quiz

Optional Resources

Participatory Research Methods Around the World

Here is a list of organizations around the world who incorporate a CBPR approach in their research.