Research on Black Fatherhood in Canada and the United States: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations

This literature review examined the methodological and theoretical considerations underlying research on Black fathers in the United States and Canada. Drawing on 38 journal articles published between 2014 and 2024, we highlighted the methodological and theoretical characteristics of studies about Black fathers and explored the extent to which Black communities were involved in the research process. Most of the studies were qualitative, and the most commonly used theoretical framework was ecological systems theory. We also found that the involvement of Black communities in research on Black fathers was limited to recruiting participants and providing data for analysis. We contend that researchers need to increase the involvement of Black communities in research about Black life in the United States and Canada, and we propose community-based participatory research as a viable way to do so.