Study offers breakthrough recommendations for migrant research

A new study published in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health calls for more authentic community participation in global migrant research.

The study, co-authored by Senior Scholar Kathleen Cravero and Ph.D. student Jose Mazariego, draws on insights from international experts who stress that migrants should be active collaborators, not just subjects, in research that affects their lives.

The researchers used a qualitative design in the form of a structured roundtable discussion. The roundtable was held virtually in 2024 with 16 individual participants with expertise in migration research and practice in nine countries.

The participants emphasized shifting away from top-down models to approaches where migrant communities define their own research needs and priorities. Among the best practices discussed were long-term partnership building, flexible funding models, and involving community leaders as co-investigators.

"Our findings show that meaningful engagement leads to more impactful and trustworthy research, but it requires structural changes to funding and academic practices to succeed," says Mazariego.

More information:
Maria Gabriela Uribe Guajardo et al, Advancing Participatory Approaches in Global Migrant Research: A Roundtable Discussion, Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s10903-025-01798-4

Provided by The City University of New York