Bringing an Equity-Centered Framework to Research - Transforming the Researcher, Research Content, and Practice of Research

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Sarah

Since the mainstream racial awakening to pervasive structural racism in 2020, organizations have pursued diversity, inclusion, and equity within workplace missions, yet questions remain about how these commitments apply to research. This paper explains how equity-centered transformative research reframes the research enterprise by departing from mainstream practice shaped by historical exclusion. Using culturally responsive evaluation, feminist and Indigenous methodologies, community-based participatory research, and theories of liberation and racial justice, it describes transforming the researcher, research content, and day-to-day research practice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

About the Authors

Acknowledgments

Abstract

Introduction

Elements of Equity-Centered Transformative Research

Researcher

Research

Researching

Equity Principles and Relationship to Research

Definitions

Application of Equity Principles to Elements of Researcher, Research, Researching

Researcher

Research

Researching

Conclusion

References

RTI Press Occasional Paper ISSN 2378-7996 January 2023 Bringing an Equity-Centered Framework to Research: Transforming the Researcher, Research Content, and Practice of Research Nitya Venkateswaran, Jay Feldman, Stephanie Hawkins, Megan A. Lewis, Janelle Armstrong-Brown, Megan Comfort, Ashley Lowe, and Daniela Pineda This publication is part of the RTI Press Research Report series. Occasional Papers are scholarly essays on policy, methods, or other topics relevant to RTI areas of research or technical focus. RTI International 3040 East Cornwallis Road PO Box 12194 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194 USA Tel: +1.919.541.6000 E-mail: [rtipress@rti.org](rtipress@rti.org) [Website: www. rti.org](Website: www. rti.org) RTI Press publication OP-0085-2301 RTI International is an independent, nonprofit research organization dedicated to improving the human condition. The RTI Press mission is to disseminate information about RTI research, analytic tools, and technical expertise to a national and international audience. RTI Press publications are peer-reviewed by at least two independent substantive experts and one or more Press editors. Suggested Citation Venkateswaran, N., Feldman, J., Hawkins, S., Lewis, M. A., Armstrong-Brown, J., Comfort, M., Lowe, A., and Pineda, D. (2023) . Bringing an Equity-Centered Framework to Research: Transforming the Researcher, Research Content, and Practice of Research. RTI Press Publication No. OP-0085-2301 . Research Triangle Park, NC: RTI Press. [https://doi.org/10](https://doi.org/10) [.3768/rtipress.2023.op.0085.2301](.3768/rtipress.2023.op.0085.2301) ©2023 RTI International. RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute. RTI and the RTI logo are U. S. registered trademarks of Research Triangle Institute. This work is distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 license (CC BY-NC-ND), a copy of which is available at [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) [https://doi.org/10.3768/rtipress.2023.op.0085.2301](https://doi.org/10.3768/rtipress.2023.op.0085.2301) [www.rti.org/rtipress](www.rti.org/rtipress) Contents About the Authors i Acknowledgments ii Abstract ii Introduction 1 Elements of Equity-Centered Transformative Research 2 Researcher 2 Research 2 Researching 3 Equity Principles and Relationship to Research 3 Definitions 3 Application of Equity Principles to Elements of Researcher, Research, Researching 5 Researcher 5 Research 10 Researching 12 Conclusion 16 References 17 About the Authors Nitya Venkateswaran, PhD, is a senior research education analyst in the Transformative Research Unit for Equity at RTI International. Jay Feldman, PhD, is a senior research public health analyst in the Transformative Research Unit for Equity at RTI International. Stephanie Hawkins, PhD, is vicepresident of the Transformative Research Unit for Equity at RTI International. Megan A. Lewis, PhD, is a Senior Fellow in the Translational Health Sciences Division at RTI International. Janelle Armstrong-Brown, PhD, is a senior research public health analyst in the Transformative Research Unit for Equity at RTI International. Megan Comfort, PhD, is a Senior Fellow in the Transformative Research Unit for Equity at RTI International. Ashley Lowe, MPH, is a research public health analyst in the Transformative Research Unit for Equity at RTI International. Daniela Pineda, PhD, is senior director in the Transformative Research Unit for Equity at RTI International. RTI Press Associate Editor Philip Graham Acknowledgments The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of the 2020–2021 Education Workforce Development Division’s Equity Committee (Demond McKenzie, Natassia Rodriguez Ott, Nestor Ramirez, Pablo Traverso, and Robin Wisniewski) to the development of the organizing framework o

FAQs

What is the main focus of the equity-centered transformative research framework?

It outlines how applying diversity, inclusion, and equity principles transforms the researcher, the research content, and the everyday practice of conducting research.

Why does the framework require a departure from mainstream research practice?

It argues that mainstream practice has been shaped by historical and intentional exclusion of diversity, inclusion, and equity principles.

Which research approaches and theories inform the framework?

The paper draws on culturally responsive evaluation, feminist, Indigenous, and critical methodologies, community-based participatory research, and theories of social transformation, liberation, and racial justice.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Sarah