Abstract
This study addresses the underrepresentation of rural communities in research by examining facilitators and barriers in two rural Mississippi counties, emphasizing the need for context-specific exploration. Utilizing focus group interviews with Community Advisory Board members from the RURAL Study, the research explores relationships, trust, and communication as key themes influencing participation. Strong community bonds are both a facilitator and barrier, emphasizing the importance of preserving close-knit ties. Trust, built through training and community recognition, is crucial, while mistrust rooted in historical concerns poses a significant barrier. Communication transparency and strategic engagement are fundamental, with physical spaces prioritized for recruitment. The study identifies hard-to-reach populations, highlighting the challenges of traditional outreach methods. Achieving the target participant number is seen as both feasible and meaningful, reflecting community commitment. Overall, the study provides nuanced insights for effective and culturally sensitive research engagement in rural communities, contributing to region-specific literature.
Recommended Citation
Awuruonye, Akachi, Frances Henderson, Christina Ferrell, Kisa Harris, Ervin Fox, and Vasan Ramachandran. 2024. "Facilitators and Barriers to Research Participation in Rural Communities." Journal of Rural Social Sciences, 39(1): Article 2. Available at: https://open.clemson.edu/jrss/vol39/iss1/2
