6. Decisions IN Planning Community Research AND Action Research PDF

Preview

Summary

6. DECISIONS IN PLANNING COMMUNITY RESEARCH AND ACTION RESEARCH Decisions Questions Area Epistemological Framework Presented Dr P Naidoo Summarized A van Wyngaard o o Area of research? info? Epistemological framework? Cultural? Relationship If research responds to needs people motivated to participa...

Description

6. DECISIONS IN PLANNING COMMUNITY RESEARCH AND ACTION RESEARCH Decisions

Questions

Area Epistemological Framework

     o

Area of research? Knowledge/ info? Epistemological framework? Cultural? Relationship If research responds to needs – people motivated to participate

o

Theory of knowledge, a way of thinking about the world, how knowledge can be constructed and what methods can be used to understand world - Philosophy knowledge – reality, human being - Practice knowledge – methods (methodology)

Postivistic

  

Contextual/ Constructionist

Presented by Dr P Naidoo Summarized by A van Wyngaard

 

Research be objective and researcher be neutral and value free Aim of research is to reach conclusions on impact of one variable on another, in lineal cause-and-effect relationship Aim is to generate general laws or principles of behaviour that are applicable in all circumstances Quantitative measurement that is reliable and valid is used as source of data Appropriate to use in CP - Focus on a deeper understanding of individuals and social context rather than having broad focus on general aspects - Researcher present in research because personality and values play role - Collaborative partnership – knowledge develops through social connection - Collaborates with members to achieve goals, learn from them and help them achieve goals - Dialogue – joint reality

-

 Emancipation and transformation  Empowerment  Proactive values central task, purpose and methods  Contextual – power relations ♦ Different levels provides different lenses for studying phenomenon ♦ Methodology depend on level of interaction - Individual - Micro-system - Organisational - Macro ♦ All research conducted in specific cultural context ♦ Each context has own dynamics, partnership interaction and rules - E.g. Student population or - Informal settlements ♦ Different people and different groups have different understanding of concepts ◊ Objective-outsider asking info in survey format ◊ Guest in comunity ◊ In partnership both the researcher and members take responsibility ◊ Alliance (Participative Action Research) – empowering, transfoming community structures and power relationships - E.g. TAC ◊ Long-term: - Well-being of the community rather than researcher’s own interest ◊ Relationship between researcher and community: - Determine quality and values of researcher 1. Stimulated by community needs 5 Principles: 2. Exchange of resources between researcher and members – collaborative effort Partnership

Critical Ideological

Ecological Level

Cultural Context

Relationship

Presented by Dr P Naidoo Summarized by A van Wyngaard

Qualitative research methods can be used

Action Research



Characteristics





   

 

 Presented by Dr P Naidoo Summarized by A van Wyngaard

3. Tool for social action – provides info about community decisions 4. Evaluation of social action and awareness of consequences of actions – an ethical imperative and also provides feedback further decisions 5. Yields products useful to community– should be most important aim Combines Action and Research - Is needs driven and directed at social change to solve identified problems or to improve human conditions Collaborative knowledge creation - Encourages equal relationships and the full involvement of those being researched in each steps of the research Builds on existing processes and resources - Acknowledge and access local knowledge, survival skills and resources can be used in development of action plan Empowering - Participants gain new resources and skills Spiral process consisting of various steps - Including fact finding and planning, taking action and reflecting on results Researcher part of Action Research - Not an aloof objective expert but a participant, a facilitator and capacity builder People embedded in spatial, cultural and temporal settings - Sensitised to influence of values, culture, gender roles and history and is subsequently equipped to facilitate emergence of setting-specific solutions to setting-specific challenges Cyclic process - Providing continuous feedback to process of change Natural context - No researcher control Participation: active, not passive – report knowledge

   

Interactive knowledge development Theory – practice Application – develop professional knowledge Individual – collective - Real world problems and issues Practical

Change Cyclical Process Participatory Action Research

  

Community-Based Participatory Research

  

  

Presented by Dr P Naidoo Summarized by A van Wyngaard

-

Integral part – deal with problems and find out more

-

Feedback loop – generate possibilities change – implemented and evaluated

Theoretical standpoint and collaborative methodology designed to ensure affected research project voice From action and change – collaborative research activities Joint process knowledge – product – new insights both scientists and practitioners - Not without consequences for people’s everyday practices (most affected) All partners, all aspects of research process Keep balance between research and action – social change Relevant to develop needs of community, aims to build on strengths and resources of community, partnership fostered - E.g. university and community members Participants learn and grow together Research findings and knowledge shared with all concerned Strengths, include relevant stakeholders

Advantages

    

Ethics

 

Presented by Dr P Naidoo Summarized by A van Wyngaard

Steps

Developed to remain visible and open to suggestions Permission before observations / examining documents produced for other purposes

Description of other’s work and points of view by negotiated those concerned before being published  Researcher must accept responsibility to maintaining confidentiality - AR is the producing of knowledge in active partnership with those affected by knowledge and for express purpose of improving social, educational, and material conditions - AR approach to inquiry supports many methods in service of sense making through experimental action – combines inquiry with action by means of stimulation and supporting change and assessing impact of change 1. Planning Phase ∞ Needs of community explored ∞ Community members involved ∞ Collaborative partnership 2. Action: Data ֒ Community members directly involved collection and ֒ Involve observations, surveys implementation ֒ Presentation of info or skills training 

Cycle

Practical problems possible way – results directly back practice Personal benefits to practitioners: contributes professional self-development Continue cycle of development and change via on site research in workplace (beneficial for organisation) Participant in research, democratisation research process; appreciative and respected for practitioner knowledge Action research facilitated participation and empowerment by opening communication – space, bringing stakeholders on issue together negotiate and develop mutual understanding and consensus about what to do

3. Observe: Data analysis and utilisation of results

Challenges

Presented by Dr P Naidoo Summarized by A van Wyngaard

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

Results interpreted in collaboration with community members ∞ Determine accuracy ∞ Most valuable part community members participate in decisions about disseminations or use of results to plan further interventions or activities 4. Reflect: Evaluation of ֒ Feedback research process ֒ Positives ֒ Negatives ֒ What work and what did not ֒ Critical for future research Access, building relationships of trust and mobilising people Time Funding Compromising research methods to fit community Difficult to achieve social change Frustration Limited scope and scale of research involvement of practitioner in research Not possible to generalise due to fact sample may not be representative Limited control over factor (variables) integration of research and practice Nature of research constrained by which permissible and ethical in workplace setting Ownership of research process contestable due to partnership between practitioner and researcher Extra burden of work Action Researcher not likely detached and impartial in his/her application to research (opposite to positivist research) ∞

Needs Assessment and Situational Analysis

“A needs assessment forming analysis that shows and documents gaps between current results and desired results (ideally concerned with gaps in OUTCOMES) arranges gaps (NEEDS) in priority order, select NEEDS to be resolved”  Tool for problem identification and justification, tool requires consensus of partners in planning and setting priorities of needs  Change oriented process  Label “NA” might be applied to any application, procedure/ method ranging from brainstorming to technically complicated surveys  Move away from problem, need, deficiency to competency/asset-based application  Individual skills Situational Analysis - Interests - Communication skills  Citizen organisations - Support groups - Networks  Local institutions - Churches - Schools  Physical assets - Parks - Roads - Shops  Leadership - Leaders o Program/ product being planned 2 Types of Needs Preparatory Needs 

Assessment Types of Needs

Assessment Retrospective Normative

Comparative Presented by Dr P Naidoo Summarized by A van Wyngaard

o

Program already implemented/ Product already exists

♦ ♦ ♦ 

Compare existing facilities with which communities should have Conditions generally expected to be part of the community Subjective – who determines norms? Compare existing facilities and circumstances with that in other areas

Expressed Restraints

Presented by Dr P Naidoo Summarized by A van Wyngaard

  

Time and resources Limited access Poor relationships

◊ Needs people in community talk about...