Diaspora dynamics: methodological innovations in community-based research for crisis response

Diaspora communities play an increasingly significant role in humanitarian crisis response, yet traditional research methodologies often fall short in capturing their nuanced experiences. This paper addresses the critical need for innovative, culturally-sensitive research approaches by reporting on a study involving eight community researchers (CRs) from diverse diaspora backgrounds. Given significant methodological autonomy, CRs investigated crisis response within their communities, revealing dynamic adaptations of traditional research methods, creative leveraging of technology, and navigation of complex dual identities. These adaptations led to more authentic engagement and richer insights into diaspora-led crisis response mechanisms. The study highlights how CRs’ tacit knowledge and cultural understanding can be systematically incorporated into research design, challenging conventional notions of researcher bias. We contribute to HCI and crisis informatics by proposing a framework for methodological innovation in community-based research, offering design recommendations for reframing methodological autonomy, leveraging complex identities, and integrating technology in culturally appropriate ways.