CYFC Scholars
Program
Lauren Martin
Kids,
Communities and Researchers: A Study of Research on the Intersections
Between Education and Health Disparities
Abstract
“Kids,
Communities and Researchers: A Study of Research on the Intersections
Between Education and Health Disparities” studies the process of conducting community engaged research by observing and
analyzing ongoing research on the health and educational disparities
in north Minneapolis in action. We
know the results of health and educational disparities for poor
children and their families: a preventable loss of human capital,
an increase in suffering, and a great social injustice. We
also know that we need our most accurate and reliable research
to chart a course for effective social change. This
project will explore whether socially engaged education and health
disparities research produces better, more accurate data than
research that is not co-created with participants (Greenwood,
2008). Using a combination of Anthropological and Participatory Action
Research methodologies I will collect data primarily from two
community-engaged research projects and collaborations on which
I work, Five Hundred under Five and the Northside Achievement
Zone. Both seek to improve outcomes by closing
educational and health disparities. My goals in this research project are twofold: improve our research theory and practice
to increase our impact on health and educational disparities
and help University and community colleagues forge ways of meaningfully
working together around common goals. This
project will provide evidence as to whether community engaged
research offers unique veracity and validity to further basic
research while also meeting the needs and interests of research
participants, society and knowledge production generally? Specifically,
we will ask: will this kind of research provide a better ground
for eliminating educational and health disparities? And,
if so, under what conditions? I
believe this proposed study of education and health disparities
research will contribute to ongoing efforts in CYFC, CEED, the
University of Minnesota, and beyond to call for and firmly establish
a research epistemology based in connection, engagement, and
action that will provide a sound scientific basis for eliminating
educational and health disparities.
