The Role of Latino High School Students as Data Collectors in Community-Based Participatory Research

ABSTRACT

An important aspect of conducting studies related to Latino health and well-being is gaining access to the community and obtaining accurate information about their status. However, a significant barrier to obtaining these data is their reluctance to speak with researchers. To assess Latino healthcare needs, a study was conducted amid the COVID-19 pandemic in a rural Midwest community where the Latino population has nearly doubled since 2010. The study used a community‐based participatory research (CBPR) approach that involved bilingual Latino high-school students as data collectors. This manuscript describes the methodology used to recruit students, train them in responsible research methods, and gather their experiences during and after the data collection period. The students’ reflections detailed how their experiences with CBPR influenced their awareness of community issues and their personal or professional development. We demonstrate how “youth of the community” can be a valuable resource in Latino community research.

KEYWORDS:

• Latino
• research methods
• healthcare
• survey
• community‐based participatory research
• student reflections

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the data collection team that made this study possible, including: Muranda Blackstone, Liz Contreras, Dr. Justin Couetil, Judith Eusebio, Julie Eusebio, Maria Fiallo, Diana Garcia, Edith Garcia, Helen Hernandez, Maria Mendieta, Arlyn Nerio, Jorge Reyes, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Ivan Santos, and Monica Zarate.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).