- Strategies to use when considering study location include:
- (1) accessing local newspapers and contacting local reporters;
- (2) contacting national reporters who have researched or written stories about the
community;
- (3) contacting other students who have done research in the area; and
- (4) making a local contact to learn about other researchers or groups that have been
in contact before.
- Researchers who are new to an area should remember that their research subjects in
these communities are helping them get what they need, and reciprocity is important.
It is key to develop long term relationships with people in the community to gain
trust.
- Current thoughts on Best Practices for research to be conducted in energy-impacted
communities include:
- (1) communication;
- (2) modifying approaches;
- (3) sharing results; and
- (4) ethical considerations for community engagement.
- Advice for communities includes suggestions that they set up systems to be prepared
for all the media and research requests that will be coming their way. They can also
think ahead about reciprocity - what they might need and be able to ask for in return
for their cooperation with the media outlets and researchers.
Energy Communities
Earth Sciences Department
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT
Director:
Julia Haggerty
[email protected]
