Disaggregating the Model Minority Myth: A Methodological Reflection on Community-Engaged Health Needs Assessment for Asian and Asian American Populations

Background and Purpose: The model minority myth and prior data collection instruments have long obscured the diverse health challenges faced by Asian and Asian American populations, contributing to their racialized invisibility and underrepresentation in research, policy, and service delivery. Addressing these ideological and methodological flaws, this study provides a methodological reflection on conducting a community-engaged health needs assessment in a metropolitan area in Texas, where Asian populations are growing in both size and diversity. Specifically, we critically examine the processes, strategies, and lessons learned from applying community-engaged methods guided by the Assessing Community Engagement Conceptual Model. By centering the voices of Asian communities and the lived experiences of distinct Asian subgroups, this project aims to challenge homogenized narratives, elevate subgroup-specific needs, and build racially just research infrastructure.

Methods: This study employs a reflective, mixed-methods approach to describe and evaluate community engagement in the health needs assessment. The research team collaborates with community gatekeepers, ethnic organizations, and policymakers to ensure culturally responsive engagement. Data informing this methodological reflection include process-oriented field notes, in-depth interviews with key informants, and focus groups with community members stratified by ethnicity. Community liaisons facilitate recruitment to ensure representation across immigration generations and socioeconomic backgrounds. Qualitative data is analyzed thematically to identify key insights and challenges related to community engagement.

Results: Key methodological reflections emerging from this project include: (1) the necessity of engaging policymakers to translate research into action, (2) the critical role of community gatekeepers in fostering trust and meaningful participation, (3) the need to build organizational capacity to address subgroup-specific health needs, (4) amplifying small and/or underrepresented group voices to drive inclusive policy recommendations, (5) the imperative of data disaggregation to capture within-group disparities, and (6) transparent and reciprocal dissemination for community empowerment and sustained engagement.

Conclusions and Implications: This reflection highlights the importance of community-engaged research in identifying and addressing health inequities among Asian and Asian American populations. By integrating community voices and prioritizing data disaggregation, this demonstrates how community-engaged research can confront dominant racial discourses and promote structural inclusion for Asian and Asian American populations. This methodological reflection advocates for ongoing partnerships with community stakeholders and policymakers, transparent and empowering dissemination strategies, and long-term institutional investment in culturally competent health services. The reflective approach also provides practical guidance for researchers conducting similar assessments with other marginalized populations facing comparable challenges and data invisibility.