Brokering Community-Based Research: Evaluating the Impacts of U-Links Centre for Community-Based Research on a Rural Canadian County

Abstract

We evaluate how the ULinks Centre for CommunityBased Research (ULinks), a nonprofit organization that brokers research for communitybased organizations with postsecondary institutions in Haliburton County, Ontario, has impacted this rural region of Ontario. Our approach uses contribution analysis and realist evaluation as layered tactics within one program evaluation. Data came from interviews with community partners (n = 26), interviews and focus groups with ULinks committee members, internal document review, and personal observations by the authors. We describe ULinks’ theory of change for how communitybased research impacts community, discuss traits of successful communitybased research, and suggest a set of five factors that may enable and affect positive community outcomes: relevance, rigor, reach, relationships, and resources.