Research Scientists
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James A. Peterson Degree: Ed.D., Urban Education Leadership, Morgan State University |
Research Interests
James Peterson, EdD, MHS is a research scientist with the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at George Washington University, where he teaches a course "Ethnographic Methods as Applied in Public Health" and has participated with and managed ethnographic and qualitative research activities on multiple projects including:
- Qualitative Component of the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Washington, DC routine testing campaign.
- Ethnographic study of the House/Ball scene and accessing HIV/AIDS care among young men of color who have sex with men.
- Lead Investigator for the District of Columbia Department of Health Community Services Assessment (CSA).
- Ethnographic Interviews conducted as a component of the HIV Prevention Trial Network (HPTN) studies (061 & 064) in the District of Columbia.
His interests are conducting ethnographic research among substance abusers, HIV AIDS fieldwork and using social research strategies to gain access to hard-to-reach populations, applying a variety of ethnographic and qualitative research methods including types of street and institutional interviewing, observations, and focus group research. He has continued to focus his professional experience in the areas of public health and the human services; encompassing various types of health research, community-based research, teaching and training, consultation, and direct work with research among incarcerated populations and reentrants, HIV+ individuals and substance users. He has significant ethnographic experience conducting fieldwork, using social research strategies to gain access to hard-to-reach populations, applying a variety of qualitative research methods. Dr. Peterson holds a Doctorate of Urban Education Leadership from Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD and a Master of Human Services Degree from Lincoln University, Lincoln, PA.
Currently, Dr. Peterson conducts ethnographic research with high-risk populations in Washington, D.C. on a CDC-funded National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) study. The NHBS is conducted in 25 cities in the United States, including Washington, D.C. The purpose of this serial cross-sectional study is to yield information about what people do that puts them at risk for HIV. The NHBS has three cycles focusing on different risk groups: men who have sex with men (NHBS-MSM), injecting drug users (NHBS-IDU), and heterosexuals at risk of HIV infection (NHBS-HET). Information gained from the NHBS will guide prevention and HIV counseling and testing services in Washington, D.C. It will also help guide and improve overall HIV/AIDS surveillance, and provide a better understanding of trends in HIV infection in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States. His current work involves:
- Lead Ethnographer for formative research on the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS)
- Community Research Coordinator for the District of Columbia Developmental Center for AIDS Research (D-CFAR)
- Community Activities Coordinator for the DC Cohort Study
- Co-investigator on Needs Assessment among HIV AIDS patients in care who have co morbidity issues of substance abuse and or mental health diagnoses
Selected Publications
Peterson, J. A., Schwartz, R. P., Mitchell, S. G., Reisinger, H. S., Kelly, S. M., O'Grady, K. E., Brown, B. S., & Agar, M. H. (2010). Why don't out-of-treatment individuals enter methadone treatment programs? International Journal of Drug Policy.
Kelly, S.M.; O'Grady, K.E.; Schwartz, R.P.; Peterson, J.A.; Wilson, M.E.; and Brown, B.S. (2010). The Relationship of Social Support to Treatment Entry and Engagement: The Community Assessment Inventory. Substance Abuse, 1547-0164, Volume 31, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 43 – 52.
Reisinger, H. S., Schwartz, R. P., Mitchell, S. G., Peterson, J. A., Kelly, S. M., O'Grady, K. E., Marrari, E. A., Brown, B. S., & Agar, M. H. (2009). Premature discharge from methadone treatment: Patient perspectives. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
Magnus, M. Kuo, I., Shelley, K., Rawls, A., Peterson, J., Montanez, L. , West-Ojo, T., Hader, S., Hamilton, F., & Greenberg, A.E. (2009). Risk factors driving the emergence of a generalized heterosexual HIV epidemic in Washington District of Columbia networks at risk. AIDS, 23(10), 1277-1284.
Mitchell, S. G., Kelly, S. M., Brown, B. S., Reisinger, H. S., Peterson, J. A., Ruhf, A., Agar, M. H., O'Grady, K. E. & Schwartz, R. P. (2009). Uses of diverted methadone and buprenorphine by opioid-addicted individuals in Baltimore, Maryland. The American Journal on Addictions, 18(5), 346-355.
Mitchell, S.G.; Kelly, S.M.; Brown, B.S..; Schacht-Reisinger' H.; Peterson J. A.; Ruhf, A.; Agar, M. H.& Schwartz R. P. (2009). Incarceration and Opioid Withdrawal: The Experiences of Methadone Patients and Out-of-Treatment Heroin Users. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Volume 41, Number 2 June 2009.
Magnus, M., Kuo, I., Shelley, K., Rawls, A., Peterson, J., Montanez, L., West-Ojo, T., Hader, S., Hamilton, F. and Greenberg, A. E. (2009) Risk factors driving the emergence of a generalized heterosexual HIV epidemic in Washington, District of Columbia networks at risk. AIDS Vol 00 No 00.
Mitchell, S. G., Kelly, S. M., Brown, B. S., Reisinger, H. S., Peterson, J. A., Ruhf, A., Agar, M. H., & Schwartz, R. P. (in press). Incarceration and opioid withdrawal: The experiences of methadone patients and out-of-treatment heroin users. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs.
Kelly, S. M., Schwartz, R. P., O'Grady, K. E., Mitchell, S. G., Reisinger, H. S., Peterson, J. A., Agar, M. H., & Brown, B. S. (2009). Gender differences among in- and out-of-treatment opioid-addicted individuals. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 35, 38-42.
Schwartz, R. P., Kelly, S. M., O'Grady, K. E., Mitchell, S. G., Peterson, J. A., Reisinger, H. S., Agar, M. H., & Brown, B. S. (2008). Attitudes toward buprenorphine and methadone among opioid-dependent individuals. The American Journal on Addictions, 17(5), 396-401.
Peterson, J. A., Reisinger, H. S., Schwartz, R. P., Mitchell, S. G., Kelly, S. M., Brown, B. S., & Agar, M. H. (2008). Targeted sampling in drug abuse research: A review and case study. Field Methods, 20(2), 155-170.
Schwartz, R.P., Kelly, S.M., O'Grady, K.E., Peterson, J.A., Reisinger, H.S., Mitchell, S.G., Wilson, M.E., Agar, M.H., & Brown, B.S. (2008). In-treatment vs. out-of-treatment opioid dependent adults: Drug use and criminal history. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 34, 17-28.
Hong, Y., Mitchell, S. G., Peterson, J. A., Latkin, C. A., Tobin, K., & Gann, D. (2005)Ethnographic Process Evaluation: Piloting an HIV Prevention Intervention Program among IDUs. Journal of Qualitative Health Research (QHR), Edmonson, Canada, 2005.
Mitchell, S.G. Peterson, J.A. & Latkin, C.A. Social Influence Processes and Inner-City Minorities At Risk for HIV/AIDS: Credibility and Modeling within the SHIELD Project. Journal of Qualitative Health Research (QHR), Edmonson, Canada, 2006.
Peterson, J.A. Mitchell, S.G., Latkin, C. A. & Agar, M.H. Getting Clean and Reducing HIV Risks: Adversarial or Complementary Issues for Injection Drug Users Public Health Reports, Brazil, South America, 2006.
Peterson, J.A., Mitchell, S.G., & Latkin, C.A. The Shooting Gallery: Opportunities and implications for the Introduction of an Ethnographic HIV Prevention Intervention. AIDS and Anthropology, Spring, 2005.
Mitchell, S.G., & Peterson, J.A., & Kaya, S. (2004). Making the switch to digital audio. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 3(4), Article 6. (2004).
Hopkins, R.K., Lucas, K.J., & Peterson, J.A. (2001) Giving Voice to the Marginalized: The Implications of Qualitative Efforts on HIV/AIDS Intervention Efforts of African Americans and Racial Minorities." New Directions in Evaluation: Special Volume on Minority Issues. (Edited by Hopson, R.K. and Patton, M.Q.),
Hopkins, R.K., Peterson, J.A., Lucas, K.J. (2000) Tales from the Hood: Informing Our Understanding of Health, Disease and Public Policy through Ethnographic Interventions in the Inner City.” Qualitative Research in the Addictions. Sage, London, 2000.