Participatory Research for Environmental Justice: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis

Background: Environmental health risks are disproportionately colocated with communities in poverty and communities of color. In some cases, participatory research projects have effectively addressed structural causes of health risk in environmental justice (EJ) communities. However, many such projects fail to catalyze change at a structural level. Objectives: This review employs Critical Interpretive Synthesis (CIS) to theorize specific elements of participatory research for environmental health that effectively prompt structural change in EJ communities. Methods: Academic database search was used to identify peer-reviewed literature describing participatory research with EJ communities to address environmental health. Synthetic constructs were developed iteratively related to study characteristics, design elements, and outcomes; and data were extracted for included records. Statistical analyses were performed to assess correlations between study design elements and structural change outcomes. Through critical, comparative, and contextual analyses of the “structural change” case study group and “non- structural change” group, informed by relevant theoretical literature, a synthesizing argument was generated. Results: From 505 total records identified, eligibility screening produced 232 case study articles, representing 154 case studies, and 55 theoretical articles for synthesis. Twenty-six case studies resulted in a structural change outcome. The synthesizing argument states that participatory research with EJ communities may be more likely to result in structural change when a) community members hold formal leadership roles; b) project design includes decision-makers and policy goals; and c) long term partnerships are sustained through multiple funding mechanisms. The assumption of EJ community benefit through research participation is critically examined. Discussion: Recommended future directions include establishing structural change as a goal of participatory research, employing participatory assessment of community benefit, and increased hiring of faculty of color at research institutions. The power, privilege, and political influence that academic institutions are able to leverage in partnership with EJ communities may be as valuable as the research itself. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP6274


Environmental monitoring-Stormwater
Environmental monitoring conducted to measure contaminants in stormwater.

Environmental monitoring-Seawater
Environmental monitoring conducted to measure contaminants in seawater.

Environmental monitoring-Soil
Environmental monitoring conducted to measure contaminants in soil.

Environmental monitoring-Plants
Environmental monitoring conducted to measure contaminants in plants.

Biomonitoring
Data collected from human bodies, including height and weight measurements, heart rate monitoring, or blood analysis.

Participant Population and Demographics Not Reported
Participant demographics not measured and/or not reported. Demographics collected Participant demographic information documented and reported.
Study Area Described Demographic description of participant community included.

Participant Recruitment
Local champions-volunteer Unpaid member(s) of the participant community act as local champions to recruit peers for study activities, often recruiting through personal relationships or networks. Engagement staff Professional staff (often through a community-based organization) act as recruitment/engagement agents as their primary job role. Includes promotoras.

Residents hired
Members of the participant community are hired as paid staff to recruit participants and/or oversee other study activities. Could be hired through community organization partner. School partner School(s) collaborate to recruit participants, train students to collect data, provide course credit for study participation, provide venues for project meetings or events, eg. May include colleges but does not include primary research institution(s). CBO partner A partnering community-based organization (CBO) is involved in any number of project activities, which may include recruiting participants, informing study design, collecting data, training or education, data dissemination activities, or related policy advocacy. Self-organized Community members organize themselves to pursue a research question, and may either recruit a research institution partner to assist them or operate independent of a research institution.

Recruitment challenges
Authors describe challenges in recruiting participants. May describe modifications made in recruitment methods or goals based on initial challenges encountered. Time intensive Time-intensive activities described, related to relationship building or other partnership activities required for participatory method. Cultural Difference / Cultural Translation Researchers share identity with community members Researcher staff (or student-staff) designing and/or administering project include at least one member of the participant community, or sharing key aspects of identity with the participant community.

Trust barriers
Authors describe encountering some distrust of scientists, science, regulatory agencies, or researchers within participant community.

Receiving data concerns
Members of participant community express concern about receiving results (e.g. low contamination results could undermine a local claim, high contamination results could hurt business/ property values)

Community-centered data report-back
Data report-back is designed and facilitated to maximize accessibility to participants and to provide tools for understanding root causes of problems and possible actions to protect health.

Data translation for action
Researchers "translate" data into appropriate forms (maps, statistics, creative visual forms, etc) needed to effectively communicate findings to decision-makers, the public, or media outlets. *Data translation for participants was considered report-back and classified in the category above.

Knowledge Justice Research question informed by local knowledge
Research question informed by members of the participant community, and their knowledge or concerns.

Study design informed by local knowledge
Study design informed by members of the participant community, and their direct input. Challenges official knowledge Data produced suggests different conclusions from those communicated by "official" sources (regulatory agency or industry, eg).

Fills knowledge gap
Data produced serves to fill a gap where documented data was not previously produced.

Data validity questioned
Decision maker(s) question the validity of data produced through participatory or "non-professional" methods. Research project identifies local community assets relevant to environmental health (business or policy champions, local experts in relevant fields, available land or funding, eg).

CBO action
Community-based organization leads action in response to study results (launching a new program, eg).

Policy involvement
Policy-makers are involved in data report-back sessions, discussions about action in response to study results, or policy action in response to study results Media exposure Public awareness of environmental health issues and community concerns and/or community action increases through media exposure. Structural change Source(s) of environmental health risk are effectively reduced or eliminated due to action taken as part of the study/partnership, in a way that holds polluters or enabling policy accountable. Policy change Policy changed to reduce source of environmental health risk.