Peer researchers in post-professional healthcare: A glimpse at motivations and partial objectivity as opportunities for action researchers. Issue 4 (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eaton, Andrew D; Tsang, A Ka Tat; Craig, Shelley L; Ginocchio, Galo F
• Other Names: Kjellströom Sofia guest-editor.; Mitchell Ann guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Action research. Volume 17:Issue 4(2019:Dec.)
• Page Start: 591
• Page End: 609
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Community-based participatory research -- peer researchers -- healthcare -- HIV/AIDS -- insider-outsider positioning; Action research -- Periodicals; 300.72
• DOI: 10.1177/1476750318811913
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-7503

Abstract

Peer researchers are members of a population under study who have a decision-making role or staff position on a research team. Peer researchers are increasingly required for funding proposals to succeed in Canadian HIV/AIDS research, and are strongly recommended for community-based participatory research in other fields. There is a need to better understand peer researchers' motivations and their impact, both positive and negative, on studies they take part in. The emerging theory of post-professionalism informed a bounded system case study approach, whereby four peer researchers from an HIV, social work, and brain health study were conveniently sampled, then interviewed concerning their experiences and insider-outsider positioning. Personal interest and community leadership were key motivations behind their involvement; language barriers and managing multiple roles were key challenges. Participants identified a risk inherent in the performative interval, considering whether their contributions were a projection of self rather than a representation of participant contributions. Tension between social location and the insider positioning expected of peer researchers requires that academic researchers recognize the personal and social investments that peers make to a study. This paper presents considerations for how healthcare researchers can better engage as peers with peer researchers.