An audacious approach to incorporating students into the ethnographic research process

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the experience of the Idaho CommuniVax local team and how a large‐scale incorporation of college students into its ethnographic research process ensured bona‐fide community engagement and a deeper understanding of the experiences of Hispanic community members as they considered COVID‐19 vaccination within the broader context of non‐Hispanic, rural, agricultural southeastern Idaho. We detail the logic behind the steps we took to rapidly recruit, train, and provide future‐oriented opportunities for 20 students who were studying a variety of disciplines. The students were from geographic localities in or near the research communities of interest. Their familial and social connections served as critical information channels between policy‐makers, decision‐makers, academics, and community members. Their varied ethnic backgrounds and their sheer number resulted in comprehensive research results and an expansive network of evidence‐based COVID‐19 information sharing that would have been impossible without their involvement.