Embedding Intersectionality Values in Citizen Science Research: The Socio-Scientific Progression by Leveraging on Intersectionality and Citizen-Led Equity-Driven (SPLICE) Research Framework

Intersectional theory effectively highlights the need to address the most marginalised communities through research, identifying key areas of privilege and oppression, and confronting it through praxis to advance social justice. Attempts at operationalising the theory for implementation have been diverse, but systematic frameworks to operationalise intersectionality remain sparse. This study seeks to provide a framework to operationalise the implementation of intersectionality in health equity research. Embedded within a citizen science approach, this paper suggests the use of the Socio-Scientific Progression by Leveraging on Intersectionality and Citizen-led Equity-driven (SPLICE) Research Framework, which aims to operationalise values of intersectionality into seven key principles for implementation throughout the research process: “Research Co-Creation,” “Safety For All,” “Reflexivity,” “Growth for All,” “Dynamic Ecological Context,” “Interlocking Systems of Oppression,” and a “Community-First Approach”. This paper takes reference to a collaboration research case study example investigating the use of Theatre of the Oppressed for Gay, Bisexual and Queer (GBQ) Singaporean men in 2023, to consider how this framework was developed and can be implemented in research studies. An accompanying checklist is developed to guide researchers in their implementation of the SPLICE framework.