Chapter 8New Wave Research:

Contemporary Applied Approaches

Action Research

• The systematic collection & analysis of data for the purpose of taking action & making

change

Participatory Action Research

• A subset of action research

• Three elements:research, adult education, sociopolitical action

Steps in Action Research

• Entry into the community

• Assessment of the situation

• Planning for research and action

• Implementation of plan and reflection

• Evaluation of the implementation

• Report and reassessment

• Planning future action

Evaluation Research

• A systematic appraisal using the methods of social research for the purpose of generating knowledge that can be used for decision making

• Also referred to as outcomes research

Purpose of Evaluation Research

• Needs assessment

• Formative evaluation

• Summative evaluation

Steps in Evaluation Research

• Identification of program objectives

• Measurement of program objectives

• Collection of data

• Analysis & interpretation of data

Pluralistic Approaches to Evaluation Research

• Approach selected depends upon the purpose of the evaluation

• Classic experiment (RCT)

• Evaluation case study

Health Promotion Research

• Systematic investigation into the processes and substance of health promotion action

• A broad range of studies including health policy, lifestyle, socioepidemiology

• Some include anthropology of health & community participation studies

Scope of Health Promotion Research

• Individual

• Family

• Community

Methods for Health Promotion Research

• Debate re traditional public health measures vs nontraditional methods

• Use a multiplicity of methods

• Question and objectives should guide design

Feminist Research

• valuing of women & their experiences

• seeing phenomenon from the perspective of women

• recognizing conditions that oppress women

• a desire to change conditions through criticism & political action

Feminist Methods

• Use a variety of quantitative & qualitative methods

• Most emphasis is on qualitative with in-depth interviews

Feminist Research (Harding)• Core purpose is to create social change to benefit

women

• a variety of methods are used to collect data but data are always analyzed within the context of women’s lives

• relationship b/w the researcher & participant is horizontal

• participant is a legitimate knower of the experience-an expert

F.R. - Philosophical Tenets

• Similar to critical social theory

• Acknowledges oppresive nature of social structures

• Universal role of systematic patriarchy in society

• Places gender centrally within research

• Promotes equality within the research team

Method/methodology

• Multiplicity of methods

• Select a method appropriate to the question

• Method ( technique for collecting evidence)

• Methodology (how the methods should be used)

• Methodology should be consistent with feminist epistemology

Feminist Methodology

• Values women’s subjective experiences

• Values importance of context in women’s lives. Method should provide a rich description of the context

• Values relationship of researcher & participant

• Values inclusion of diverse women

F.R.- Question

• Issues that are of primary concern to women

• requires women to report their experiences in their own voices

• allows for a structural analysis of the conditions of women’s lives & should lead to an improvement of it

• e.g. accessing health care, women’s work, women’s health, poverty, motherhood

F.R. - Role of the Researcher

• Nonhierarchical, reciprocal relationship

• Views self as a partner with participants

• Vulnerable one, shares experiences & emotions with participants as team member

• Reflexivity is expected of the researcher

F.R. - Sample

• Purposive

• Embrace diversity of women’s lives

• Include women of diverse social class, ethnic groups, cultures, etc

• Critical of ethnocentric bias in nursing studies

F.R. - Data Collection

• Oral history interviewing

• Multiple in-depth interviews

• Participant observation

• Focus group interviews

• Structured/ semi-structured interview guides

• Documents such a diaries, letters, photos

• Questionnaires and indexes

F.R. - Data Analysis

• Content is analyzed in terms of artifacts produced by women, about women, for women

• Patriarchy & ethnocentric bias are major themes examined in the analysis

• Participants are active partners in the data analysis process

F.R. - Findings

• Use descriptive, non-sexist language • Portray women’s voices• Structural analysis of everyday lives of

women• User friendly, accessible to all not just

intellectuals• Includes an analysis of the role of the

researcher