“Challenges in Partnered Research” is a new Q&A series by Partnering in Research that highlights individuals transforming policies, practices, and communities through collaborative research. Each installment features 1-3 researchers from diverse disciplines discussing some of the most common challenges faced in partnered research and their innovative solutions.
Navigating the complexities of partnered research can be as challenging as it is rewarding. When researchers collaborate with non-academic partners—such as community members, government policymakers, and non-profits—they usually share a common goal: to benefit society.
However, conflicts can arise. These might stem from differences in timelines, research methods, or how the knowledge is shared and used. While these conflicts can be stressful, they also offer valuable opportunities. They can deepen mutual understanding, clarify objectives, promote equity, and ultimately enhance the positive impact of the research.
In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Heather Gainforth, an Associate Professor in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at UBC Okanagan. Dr. Gainforth’s research is driven by a profound belief that health promotion interventions and guidelines should reach those who need them most.
Her work focuses on closing the gap between health behaviour change research and practice through knowledge translation—ensuring that research findings are effectively communicated and implemented in real-world settings. With a strong foundation in behaviour change theory and a commitment to community collaboration, Dr. Gainforth’s research sheds light on how we can navigate and even embrace conflict in partnered research to create stronger, more equitable partnerships and outcomes.
So, whether you’re a seasoned researcher or new to collaborative projects, this Q&A offers valuable guidance for navigating financial challenges, power dynamics, and creating meaningful, impactful and joyful collaborations.
Enjoy the interview below, available in video and written formats.
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Edits have been made to this written Q&A for clarity, style, and tone.
How have you seen conflict manifest itself in partnered research projects?
I often see two types of conflict. One case is where we intentionally cross somebody’s boundaries, their principles and their values, and that can lead to quite an intense conflict.
The other case is where it’s quite unintentional. For example, I wasn’t clear with you about what my principles, my boundaries or my values are, and you didn’t know that you crossed them. And now we actually have to have a conversation about that to change how we work together, moving forward.
What are some ways that researchers can tackle this challenge?
At the heart of partnerships are respect and trust, so it’s essential to understand what these values look like for both you and your partners. Be clear about how you feel when disrespected and what actions might cause someone else to feel the same. That way, we can all be clear and understand what it means to show up respectfully in your partnership.
What are other possible conflicts?
Not unlike other relationships in our life. Finances are a challenge and talking about money can be difficult. It’s important that we recognize, we value, and we reimburse our partners for their partnership and the time that they’ve given us.
Also, it’s important that we’re clear about our financial constraints, what we can do and what we can’t do as partners. Otherwise, we can quickly find that people start to feel resentment and frustration.
How can equitable collaboration be supported?
When developing a process to think about how you can call each other in or call each other out, it’s important to consider power dynamics. In particular, if you’re someone in the room who holds a great degree of power for many different reasons, it’s important to have processes that also ensure people with potentially less power or privilege in the group have a way to call you out or call you in.
Examples could be an anonymous link where members of the team can provide feedback. You could also have a member of the team that acts as an integrity or accountability facilitator, who supports you in navigating these processes.
When partnered research is at its best, what does it look like?
It’s meaningful and it’s connected and it’s joyful. You’re working in a team that trusts one another and is working together to ensure that research is relevant, useful and impactful. That leads to long-standing changes for the communities that we serve.
Thank you for reading! We hope you enjoyed the interview and found valuable insights to enhance your partnered research initiatives.
We invite you to explore our other interviews and stay tuned for our upcoming workshops designed to further support your research journey.