A co-design exemplar: how to align with community goals when developing data collection methods with communities from refugee backgrounds

Abstract

Co-design in a research context is an approach that involves participants reflecting on their lived experience of a phenomenon to tailor research outcomes to their needs. It is empowering because it provides greater equity in the research process. However, minimal literature is available on ways to encompass co-design into research planning. This article aims to provide an exemplar of co-design research by describing how data collection methods and tools were developed in a participatory action research project through collaboration with community members with a lived refugee experience in Greater Brisbane, Australia. Eight people (aged 18 to 65) were recruited using convenience and purposive sampling, with four workshops held between January and April 2022. Workshops utilised co-design methods, including journey mapping, personas, brainstorming and experiential learning to capture the lived experience of accessing food, to collaboratively co-design data collection methods and tools, and to train community members as community researchers. Co-designing data collection methods ensured that community members with no research experience could contribute towards the design of culturally appropriate data collection tools. Future research in public health should embed co-design into research/intervention planning, execution and outcomes, and align research goals with community goals by drawing on lived experience.