That the interests of affected communities will not be addressed by researchers or policy makers without the intervention and input of the communities themselves is the major underlying premise of these 19 papers presented by Minkler (health and social behavior, U. of California at Berkeley) and Wallerstein (public health, U. of New Mexico Health Sciences Center). The papers look at the origins and history of community-based research before concentrating on theoretical and methodological issues. The papers are organized into sections examine issues of power and trust, identification and selection issues, ethical issues in planning and conducting research, taking diverse populations into account, and the uses of research to promote social change and healthy public policy. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Meredith Minkler is professor of Health and Social Behavior in the School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, and assistant to the vice chancellor for National and Community Service. Nina Wallerstein is professor and director of the Masters in Public Health Program at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Tags: community based participatory research for health