Sharing Findings
Things to consider while sharing findings to the community at large
A fundamental feature of community-based participatory research (CBPR) is sharing findings with community members and engaging community members in the dissemination process.
Sharing Accordion
Considerations
- Community members deserve access to the knowledge they have made possible through participation or other forms of engagement in a study.
- Community dissemination allows providers to implement findings immediately and locally, potentially reducing the gap between research and practice.
- By fostering dialogue with those most affected by a given health issue, community dissemination aids in developing culturally relevant interventions.
Consider a story-telling format for your dissemination narrative
Considerations
Planning:
- Build community dissemination into project aims.
- Obtain feedback from community partners and/or community members to disseminate your findings.
- Look into opportunities to present your findings during standing meetings (e.g. community partners’ staff meetings).
Reaching out to community partners:
- Designate a team member to coordinate dissemination outreach to ensure planned activities will take place.
- Draw on established relationships.
- Ideally, the research team should have established relationships with key community leaders/representatives before the dissemination phase.
- Conduct “pre-meetings” with community leaders/representatives. Work with community members to select findings for presentation.
- Exploring the interests and expertise of likely attendees and identifying which findings fit those interests so that slides can be tailored.
Sharing Findings:
- Make presentations interactive.
- Share a personal story illustrating why this research is important to you.
- Presenter can address mistrust at the beginning of the presentation by telling a story that conveyed why this area of research mattered personally.
- Cultivate a receptive attitude toward criticism.
Ongoing Dialogue:
- Follow up with one-on-one meetings.
- Recognize the potential value of research findings for service providers.
- Demonstrate that suggestions are integrated into further research or programs.
Considerations
Sharing information with the general public:
Think about when, where and how you will share study results.
- Include infographics and visuals for digestible data presentation
- Use language that is between a 6th to 8th grade level
- Use lay language, and avoid jargon or technical terms
- Tailor your language and presentation to the target audience
- Clear disaggregated data relevant to communities of focus
- Language translation
- Emphasize impact on people’s lives
- Clear tie-in to current events or community priorities
Presentation Methods:
Some examples include:
- Develop a newsletter to share with community organizations.
- Share results with community partners.
- Aldermen/alderwomen may be willing to share a short article with their constituents in their monthly newsletter. See list of Chicago aldermen here.
- Policy briefs
- Media -press release e.g. template
- Consider community media outlets, learn more here
- Share report and/or Executive Summary
Note: You will need IRB approval to share findings with the community
Developing Content in Plain Language:
Additional resources
Need more information on community engaged research?
Check out Duke University CTSI Resources
Recruitment materials: Trial Innovation Network Toolbox