Capacity, scale and place: pragmatic lessons for doing community‐based research in the rural setting

Abstract

Community‐based research (CBR) represents a particularly timely approach to rural research. Rural areas in industrialized nations are undergoing dramatic and rapid processes of economic, social and political restructuring. These forces, combined with a trend towards place‐based development and territorial policy make CBR an appropriate rural method given its flexibility and sensitivity to local context. The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the use and methods of CBR in the rural setting, drawn from our collective research experience in northern British Columbia. There has been increased attention paid to CBR, signalling a form of acceptance within the academy towards community‐based and participatory methods. However, gaps exist in addressing the various approaches to conducting CBR and in considering the relevance of CBR in different contexts. Researchers also note the need for better training in the use of community‐based methods. We reflect upon our rural CBR experience to offer insights and pragmatic lessons on effective methodological practices using a simplified framework of the key research process stages: preparing for community engagement, doing community‐based research and after the fieldwork.

Entrepreneurship as a community phenomenon; reconnecting meanings and place

“…Communities are recognizable social entities, greater than kinship but more immediate than societies (Cohen, 2013). Markey et al (2010) describe communities as a matrix of place that precipitates shared sentiments and expectations, and generate strong feelings of community attachment. Nonetheless, we are mindful to avoid what Richard Sennett (1997) described as a destructive Gemeinschaft; an overly rosy Tonnesian view of organic community, Central to place attachment is the experience of belonging; people belong to a community and places become their community.…”

Knowledge to action: First nations engagement with research for community benefit.

“…Dickson & Green (2001) argue that participatory research is the best way to ensure the experiences of marginalized, rural, and Aboriginal communities are represented accurately in research. Likewise, participatory research is regarded to be an ideal way to contextualize the research, and better understand the specifics of a rural research community (Markey, Halseth & Manson, 2009;Smylie et al, 2009) that may include geographic isolation and cultural difference ) such as my research area of Takla Landing.…”

The Port of Prince Rupert: opportunities and challenges for small business in BC's northern corridor

“…Rural regions, such as those located in BC ' s Northern Corridor, will need to collaborate in order to grasp the opportunities for change and growth (Halseth, 2010). The idea of distinctive regional assets designed to entice businesses and investment was confirmed by the focus-group.…”

“…For the purpose of this project we concern ourselves with the stretch of Highway 16 from Prince Rupert to Prince George and the communities located therein (Halseth, 2010;Halseth, Manson, Markey, Lax, & Buttar, 2006). …”

“…The group also recognized the unique assets described in Halseth (2010) that contribute to the attraction and retention of necessary human capital required to access current economic opportunities.…”