cbr faculty fellows program presented by: brenda marsteller kowalewski september 16, 2009
TRANSCRIPT
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