Using Mediating Artifacts to Push for Greater Equity in Research Practice Partnerships

Abstract

Strong research-practice partnership (RPP) relationships are defined in part by having routines and norms the support equitable participation of each partner, but exactly how those routines and norms are achieved is unclear. Utilizing cultural historical activity theory (CHAT), we examine two RPPs who shifted their mediating artifacts – the tools, rules, and division of labor that structure joint work – to move toward more equitable partnership. These narrative accounts provide insight into how RPP participants – researchers, practitioners, and graduate students – can leverage moments of change to maintain or regain equitable power distribution.