Participant engagement as a continuum shaped by influencing factors and research stage¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 design), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The brief conceptualizes how study participants and community members are involved in research as a continuum rather than a binary. It states that "Participant engagement can be conceptualized as a continuum" and that "Several factors influence where a study falls along the continuum." The continuum position "can also vary at each stage of the research process," so engagement depth is treated as dynamic across design, data collection, and reporting rather than fixed for a whole study.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• A study's position on the continuum is determined by factors the authors say influence placement, and can differ at each stage of the research process.

Constraints¶

• The brief presents the continuum as a conceptualization from the authors' experience, not as a measured or validated instrument.

Target Learners¶

• District partners and study participants in education research

Target Learning Objectives¶

• Designing and conducting research-to-action partnerships that engage participants in the co-construction of research

Claims¶

• After brief 1–2 day training, participants showed behaviors consistent with movement from Stage 0–1 toward Stage 1–2, and sustained courses were associated with Stage 3–4 behaviors (observational; no pre/post measure or comparison group) [+W]

Related Theories¶

• Co-design framework with core tenets of power sharing and inclusion, prioritizing relationships, and capability building

Examples¶

• Actively involve community members and study participants in the co-construction of research

Key Sources¶

• Moira McCullough, Menbere Shiferaw. (2024). Navigating the gray spaces in research-to-action: Engaging partners in a cross-district study of middle school math curricula. Mathematica. https://www.mathematica.org/publications/navigating-the-gray-spaces-in-research-to-action