Pattern 15 · People & Learning
Community-Based Research
Local knowledge generation led by residents and institutions together.
Addresses: Institutional Distrust, Underused Assets, Lack of Vision
Problem
Research happens to rural communities, not with them. Data extraction leaves towns with reports on shelves and little say in what gets studied or how findings are used.
Context
Universities and agencies need rural insights, but one-way research erodes trust. Meanwhile, communities hold deep knowledge that never gets documented or leveraged.
Solution
Co-design research projects where residents shape questions, gather data, interpret findings, and own the outcomes. Build capacity locally while generating useful knowledge.
Implementation
- Partner with universities on community-driven research questions (housing, health, economy)
- Train residents as peer researchers and interviewers
- Share findings in accessible formats: town halls, one-pagers, videos, not just academic papers
- Ensure community owns data and decides how it's used
Examples
- Montana: Community health assessments led by residents with university technical support
- Appalachia: Oral history projects documenting local knowledge with academic partners
- Southwest: Tribal communities directing climate research priorities and protocols
Related Patterns
- Public Data Commons
- Listening Infrastructure
- Institutional Partnership Liaisons