Engaged research incorporates reciprocal community engagement practices into the discovery, teaching, integration, application, development, and mobilisation of knowledge to the mutual benefit of community and academic interests. Engaged research can also include creative outputs and other expressions or activities. Of essence is that engaged research must be systematic and rigorous. Results need to be disseminated in publications for debate and have to be critiqued by peers.

The relevance of engaged research is not limited to developing science based on the latest theories and methods. It also includes the integration of theory and practice, as well as the inclusion of community partners as active contributors to identify relevant goals, research questions, and methodologies. An essential element of engaged research is to benefit the community and actively calls for appropriate research methodologies. Engaged research should be action-oriented and participatory in nature. These methodologies can include, but are not limited to, community-based participatory research or community-based research, participatory action learning action research (PALAR), action research or applied research.