Improving Academic–Community Partnerships: A Case Study of a Project Investigating Attitudes about Diversity

Abstract

This case study describes a process evaluation of a successful academic–community research partnership that measured attitudes about diversity in a southwestern Pennsylvania county. While this is the first case study based on a process evaluation with an outside facilitator, the authors summarize three previous case studies of academic–community research partnerships. In keeping with previous literature, the authors focus on three primary areas: factors that promote partnership success, factors that hinder partnership success, and frameworks for successful partnerships. For each of these three areas, the authors summarize the literature, detail their own experiences, and note ways that their research contributes to knowledge of such partnerships. The authors include lessons learned and suggestions intended to benefit those who engage in similar academic–community relationships.