Methodological Principles and Research Practices

CBR Faculty Fellows ProgramPresented by:

Brenda Marsteller KowalewskiSeptember 16, 2009

Outline the ideal principles of CBR and discuss how they translate to a real CBR project.

Collaboration Democratization of knowledge Social Justice

Outline the steps in CBR practices and identify any special considerations necessary in a CBR project as opposed to traditional research.

Objectives

Community is involved in each stage and phase of the CBR project

Identifying the research question Choosing a research design and method Collecting the data Analyzing the data Reporting the results

Collaboration – Ideal

Full collaboration is not often achieved◦ Working with grassroots orgs – often unorganized◦ Working with one step up from grassroots

CBR in the middle Agencies are more organized, leadership established

but puts more distance between researcher and the organization’s clients

Bare minimum for collaboration◦ Defining research focus and question◦ How and if the results will be used

Collaboration – Real

Family Self Sufficiency Program – Ogden Housing Authority◦ Handout – book chapter

Collaboration – Real

CBR makes professors, students and community members all knowledge producers

Use mixed research methods – quote p. 78

CBR insists on connectedness and relationship building; distance increases inaccuracy

Democratization of Knowledge – Ideal

Researchers often struggle because of our training in traditional research and within our disciplines

◦ CBR challenges traditional conceptions of expertise and objectivity

◦ CBR neither recognizes nor respects rigid disciplinary boundaries – real problems don’t fit neatly into any one discipline

Democratization of Knowledge – Real

CBR seeks to “contribute to altering some aspects of the political, social, or economic institutional operations or cultural context that give rise to a problem” – p. 81

Challenge the status quo

Social Justice – Ideal

Change is often times small◦ Whereas research may be the focus of the

researcher, it is only one small part of a bigger project for the community.

◦ Creating or affecting social change is difficult and knowledge is only one of the resources necessary to create any change

Social Justice – Real

Researchers have a hard time translating their findings into action.◦ Youth Impact example

Roles of the Researcher in Social Change (p. 84)◦ Initiator – manages the social change project as well as the

research◦ *Consultant – manages the research only, and from a

distance◦ Collaborator – Is a full participant in social change project,

but primarily as researcher or educator

*Most researchers

Social Justice – Real

Step One – Choosing a problem◦ Specifying what the range of problems might be or extent of a problem;

example Youth Impact research

Step Two – Identifying resources and solutions◦ Research on what resources already exist or researching solutions or models

Step Three – Developing a plan◦ Introspective research where a group analyzes itself

Step Four – Implementing the plan◦ Research as action – Freedom Riders example, p. 92

Step Five – Evaluating◦ Research done by the powerless on the powerful; participatory evaluation;

example p. 93

Research Opportunities in Social Change Process

Steps in CBR Project◦ Identify the research question◦ Choose a research design and method◦ Collect the data◦ Analyze the data◦ Report the results

There are special considerations that need to be made at each step in a CBR project

Research Practices

Connect with a community organization needing research

Find out what they want to know

Translate what they want to know into a manageable research question

Write the research question(s) down and post

Identifying a Research Question

Traditional Research & CBR◦ Resources (time, money, people) available

◦ Population characteristics

◦ Population availability

◦ Orientation and skills of the researcher

◦ The nature of the research question

Research Design and Method – Criteria Governing Choices

Additional criteria for CBR◦ Purpose of the research

◦ Skill levels of students and community members

◦ Academic time crunch

◦ Learning goals

Research Design and Method – Criteria Governing Choices

Do you involve community members in data collection?◦ Benefits

Rewarding for community members Can act as “informants” Can build community relationships Community members develop expertise or skills

◦ Challenges Community members may be willing but are untrained Risk that data collection will not get done on time or

done well enough

Collecting the Data – Who?

From sources other than humans◦ Archives and agency data, public records,

newspapers, web sites, organizational charts, land use records, transcripts (YI example), etc.

◦ Challenges – incomplete or incomprehensible records, bureaucratic regulations that limit access, uncooperative or incompetent gatekeepers, bad weather, etc.

Collecting the Data - Sampling

From human subjects◦ More challenging than gathering samples from other

sources◦ Securing participants◦ Sample size and representativeness take a back seat◦ Ethical issues – protecting the privacy and dignity of

respondents IRB Application Form

http://www.weber.edu/IRB/application_form.html

Training for studentshttp://cme.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learning/humanparticipant-protections.asp

Collecting the Data - Sampling

Ideally, faculty, students and community partners are involved◦ Academic researchers bring experience, training

and access resources◦ Students carry out the data entry and analysis◦ Community partners provide an insider’s view on

findings and their uses

Most CBR analysis can be done with basic training and resources

Analyzing the Data

Key Questions:

◦ In what format should results be presented?

◦ Where should results be shared?

◦ Who should present the findings?

How to Report Results

Written Reports PowerPoint presentation Skit Colorful Poster illustrating key results in

graphs Press release Press conference Theatrical presentation Demonstration or rally

Reporting the Results - Format

Campus-based presentations◦ Sharing results with community partners◦ Service Symposium

Community-based presentations

Academic Conferences

Reporting Results – Where to Share

If the social change requires the action of an external party, the researcher may be the most appropriate person to present.

If the students have been the most intimately involved with the CBR project or if the project involves some politically charged issue, the students may be the most appropriate.

If the research is primarily for the community, it may be best received if community members present the findings.

Reporting Results – Who Presents