Further Down the Virtual Vines: Managing Community-Based Work in Virtual Public Spaces

Community-Based Participatory Research

Before delving into the details of community-based research and virtual work, we find it necessary to situate this chapter in the methodological practices that have given rise to CBPR. As both organizations and individuals realize the need for more inclusive systems of democracy and participation, government agencies and researchers are exploring the possibilities of taking a community-based approach. The United Nations, for example, has considered ways to incorporate the perspectives of non-state actors and community members into their conversations about policy, information, and society (Cogburn, Johnsen, & Bhattacharyya, 2008). Additionally, agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have established funding opportunities that encourage community partnerships in the design and implementation of research projects. CBPR practices have gained a great deal of momentum across disciplines; therefore, it is necessary to mention the research traditions and methodologies that have fueled their development.