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Title: Building Research Literacy

Author
item McCabe Sellers, Beverly
item Wallace, Kristy
item STRICKLAND, EARLINE - DELTA NIRI
item Lovera, Dalia
item Bogle, Margaret

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/2007
Publication Date: 6/8/2007
Citation: McCabe Sellers, B.J., Wallace, K.L., Strickland, E., Lovera, D., Bogle, M.L. 2007. Building research literacy [abstract]. The Institute for Community Research: Cross Roads II Community Based Collaborative Research for Social Justice, June 7-9, 2007, Hartford, CT. p. 14.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Community-Based Participatory Research is an equitable partnership of researchers and communities, with community members being fully engaged and empowered to plan, implement, and evaluate research. Assumption of equitable roles requires a basic knowledge of the research process. The ability and willingness to assume these roles is a capacity that can be termed research literacy. The Lower Mississippi Delta Nutrition Intervention Research Initiative (Delta NIRI) initially found limited research literacy in these rural communities. Delta NIRI has a mission to evaluate nutritional health in the region, to identify nutritionally responsive problems, and to design and evaluate successful research interventions that can be sustained. Capacity within partner institutions has been built to enhance teaching, research and outreach in food, nutrition and health. Developing research literacy among community members is another key component of this mission. The Delta NIRI has established three local research organizations known as NIRIs (Marvell, NIRI, Franklin NIRI, and Hollandale NIRI). Participation in community planning workshops led to assessments of community readiness for nutrition and physical activity and community resources. In addition, community members and local students have served on working groups to formulate a research plan, developed a manual of operation, obtained IRB and HIPAA certification through online courses, and served as research assistants and peer educators. Open workshops on research basics have been held. Data collected and analyzed have been taken back to community meetings for review and interpretation from the community's viewpoint. The local NIRIs engage community members and researchers in monthly community meetings focused on research planning, implementation, and evaluation. Community members take active roles in the research process, develop research literacy, enjoy achieving outcomes to benefit their community, and establish appropriate priorities to address their own concerns.