Increasing capacity for community-engaged research in prisons: The utility of a basic research short course

• In Event: Policy Panel: The Complex Ecology of Correctional Reform and Change in the 21st Century

Abstract

The use of community-engaged research strategies is proliferating, yet some teams are challenged by successfully finding shared language and understanding of research concepts. This paper discusses one strategy to build capacity to carry out community-engaged research within prisons. Innovation advisory groups were developed through the PRIN initiative. Advisors identified a need for a short course on research to increase the skills needed to engage in the co-creation of interventions, testable research questions, research projects, grants, and dissemination products. A member of the research team delivered a six-part research course in-person for incarcerated advisors (n = 20) and via a hybrid approach for staff advisors (n = 9). Participants ranged in age from 22 to 64 years old and 38% identified as a person of color. Changes in participants’ research knowledge, attitudes towards research, and barriers to research were measured using a pre-post research design. Following the course, participants’ research knowledge increased by two points (p < .001). Attitudes towards research improved but changes did not reach statistical significance. Participants perceived more barriers to research participation following the course (p = .003). Offering a short course on research is one promising strategy for building capacity for community-engaged research in prisons.

Authors

• Kelli E. Canada, University of Missouri

• Ashley Givens, University of Missouri

• Beth Huebner, Arizona State University

• Janet Garcia-Hallett, University of New Haven

• Elizabeth Taylor, University of Missouri

• Dana Cafouek, Missouri Department of Corrections