Guiding our research
Our Aims
Community-engaged research happens across a broad spectrum of possibilities. While we tailor our approach to the unique needs and objectives of each project, check out the pillars of the research which originates within Transcend the Binary.
You can also check out our active & upcoming study opportunities!
Community-Centered
Our research approach is rooted in community as we:
- Adapt our research focus to meet evolving and emerging community needs.
- Drive positive change within the community, prioritizing research that improves well-being and empowerment.
- Amplify community voices, ensuring alignment with community priorities.
- Prioritize input from TGD folks with diverse lived experiences and historically excluded identities.
Collective Impact
Together, we drive positive change and empower the TGD community as we:
- Collaborate with research partners to enhance the integrative wellness of the TGD community.
- Support collaborative efforts within Transcend to align with our overall mission and effectiveness.
- Generate results that can assist partner efforts in addressing complex systemic TGD issues.
- Engage community members in research development and evaluation.
Skill-Building
We actively foster skill development as we:
- Nurture research skills and knowledge within the community.
- Cultivate leadership abilities within our team while enhancing our research capabilities.
- Empower team members with knowledge-sharing from lived expertise and mutual skill-sharing.
Promote Community-Led Practices
We prioritize methodologies that value the knowledge and expertise of the TGD community, as:
- TGD researchers hold decision-making authority throughout the research process, including
- shaping objectives and study design,
- creating and selecting research instruments,
- leading participant recruitment,
- contributing to data analysis, and
- informing the interpretation of key findings.
Community Benefit
Decision-making authority extends to how research findings are shared with the wider world, as we:
- Share findings with the TGD community, research community, and the public.
- Produce assets that include accessible formats and community-friendly language.
- Ensure the community benefits from our work.
- Prioritize action-based research, which results lead to change.
From Our Blog
Redefining Research
When researchers claim their work is “community-engaged,” what does that actually mean? Too often, it’s academic speak for “we consulted with some people” or “we had community members on our advisory board.” But the Transcend Research Collective has developed something radically different—a methodology that shifts power from universities to communities themselves.
Most academic research follows a predictable pattern: university researchers identify a “problem” in a community, design a study, collect data, and publish results in journals that community members can’t access. Communities provide the labor and lived experience while academics harvest the prestige. The TRC recognized this extractive dynamic and chose a different path, demonstrating what happens when transgender and gender diverse communities don’t just participate in research—they lead it.
Partner with us
We recognize that community engaged research happens across a spectrum and are willing to discuss the constraints and possibilities of your project. Together, we can create impactful solutions that resonate with the community.
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- Consult with the Transcend Research Collective
- Sponsor a study or TGD-led research products
- Help get the word out
- Join our team