Community-engaged methods (CEM) are a rigorous methodology that recognizes and centers the expertise of the people and communities at the heart of an issue by collaborating with them as fellow experts in research, policy, and practice. In contrast to traditional research methods, which are often extractive, a core tenant of CEM is building people’s capacity to collect and use data to benefit their communities. Community-engaged methods can be integrated at any stage of work, although ideally they are included during the entire process. In this guide, we provide guidance for community organizations on how to incorporate community-engaged methods in collecting and analyzing data and developing tools.
Who Is This Guide For?
This guide is intended for locally embedded community-based organizations undertaking research or other data-related work. Locally embedded organizations are typically trusted by, and have relationships with, the communities they serve. Using CEM allows them to leverage these strengths. Moreover, these organizations are well positioned to use their existing skills, relationships, and credibility to conduct community-centered data collection and analysis, advancing local priorities faster. When conceptualizing their work, community-based organizations should think about their strengths and barriers they are facing, and lean into the strengths.
What This Guide Offers
This guide offers insights based on the experiences of organizations that participated in the Catalyst Grant Program. The grantees undertook projects to reform the criminal legal system that ranged from collecting new data in their communities, to analyzing local government data, to building data dashboards and other tools for community members, to using data to improve services. The guide also draws from the authors’ experience in Urban Institute research projects. It begins with an overview of the benefits of CEM for community organizations doing criminal legal system work. It then presents key ethical considerations, followed by guidance for identifying and engaging with communities throughout the research process using CEM, with examples threaded throughout.
This is one in a series of guides developed by the Urban Institute for community groups, drawing on the experiences of Catalyst Grant Program participants and Urban researchers. The Catalyst Grant Program supported the efforts of nonprofit organizations to use data and technology to advance racial equity and reform in the adult criminal legal system. Visit the “Catalyst Grant Program Insights” page to see the other guides and more resources and stories about the grantees.
