Evidence and Equity: Challenges for Research Design

This brief is a call to action for the research community to close the research gap on hard-to-study and minority populations. In the evidence-based intervention world of today, many programs require significant scientific justification before they are approved and funded, which makes it harder for interventions on lesser-studied populations to be implemented. This publication provides strategies to address research disparities, including involving communities throughout the entire research process, using previously proven and rigorous target-specific designs if available, and using conscientious and creative alternatives to randomized controlled trials when appropriate.