Community-based Research 101
There are four stages in conducting research on issues concerning communities - 1) identification of relevant questions, 2) planning an evaluation design, 3) choosing appropriate data collection methods, and 4) gathering and analysis of data.
Not only does the community get to help by sharing their knowledge and opinions, but the community members also get to localize national issues and participate in the solutions. It’s “empowering participants” by giving them the power to evaluate their own situations.
Basically, community based-research takes place in the community, and involves members of the community in the implementation of research projects through community-based organizations or members and leaders.
What differentiates this kind of research from the others is:
- There are community partners who are involved from the first stage of the project research.
- Community partners are considered as having enough real influence to make sure goals are achieved.
- Results of the research should be for the benefit of the community, like building or enhancing community assets like leaders, teams, policies, infrastructure, among others.
- The community should be involved in the analysis of the data gathered, and the method best considered to distribute the findings efficiently.
- Hopefully, community members involved in the research project will embark on their own research projects to address needs they want to solve and identify.
The Institute for Community Research is one example of an innovative research and community enhancement program. They focus on ethnographic AIDS and substance abuse research, youth enrichment, urban and heritage arts, women's empowerment, and more.
They have four research methods - basic research, intervention research, participatory action research, and cultural conservation and development research. They do all these for their partner communities to give them tools to tackle their problems as one.
Some links that are directed to research project examples and other organizations can be found below.
For a relevant class project that can take students directly into the heart of their communities, assign community-based research projects now.
One project which you and your students can participate in is the Doon Po Sa Amin, a four-year online user content generation project of Smart Communications Inc. that encourages teachers and students to utilize computer and Internet technologies in producing and sharing web-based information and educational materials about their respective communities.
Doon Po Sa Amin is an initiative which encourages teachers and students to participate and collaborate on web projects that can help promote and develop their communities.
Sources:
“Community-Based Research Principles.” Retrieved September 10, 2008 from
http://sphcm.washington.edu/research/community.asp
“Community research.” Retrieved September 10, 2008 from
http://www.mapcruzin.com/community-research/
“Research Methods.” Retrieved September 10, 2008 from
http://www.incommunityresearch.org/research/research.htm
Zukoski, Ann and Luluquisen, Mia. “Evaluation.” Retrieved September 10, 2008 from
http://depts.washington.edu/ccph/pdf_files/Evaluation.pdf
(Published 22 September 2008, Smart Communications, Inc.)
