Research Methods for Community Change : A Project-Based Approach

by Randy Stoecker

• ISBN13: 9781412994057
• ISBN10: 1412994055
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-02-09
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc

Summary

Research Methods for Community Change: A Project-Based Approach, Second Edition is an in-depth review of all of the research methods that communities can use to solve problems, develop their resources, protect their identities, and build power. With an engaging writing style and numerous real world examples, Randy Stoecker shows how to use a project-based research model in the community to: diagnose a community condition; prescribe an intervention for the condition; implement the prescription; and evaluate its impact. At every stage of this model there are research tasks, from needs and assets assessments to process and outcome studies. Readers also learn the importance of involving community members at every stage of the project and in every aspect of the research, making the research part of the community-building process.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments	p. xi
About the Author	p. xvii
"But I Don't…"	p. 1
"But I Don't Do Research"	p. 1
"But I Don't Do Community Work"	p. 3
"So What Is Research?"	p. 4
"Okay, So I Do Research Already. Why Do I Need to Learn About It?"	p. 8
"I'm Already Running Full-Out Managing Our Programs. How Can I Do More Research Too?"	p. 11
"I'm Still Not Convinced. But Just in Case, Where Do I Start?"	p. 13
"So Where Do I and My Community Fit In?"	p. 18
Conclusion and Coming Attractions	p. 20
The Goose Story	p. 21
Resources	p. 22
Notes	p. 22
The Goose Approach to Research	p. 25
Have You Ever Felt Like an Interloper?	p. 25
Participatory Action Approaches to Research	p. 27
A Participatory Action Research Approach	p. 31
Loose Gravel	p. 35
Conclusion	p. 43
Resources	p. 44
Notes	p. 45
The Community Development Context of Research	p. 47
Learning from Pandora	p. 47
What Is Community Development?	p. 49
Research and Community Development	p. 52
Building Research Relationships in a Community Development Context	p. 56
Loose Gravel	p. 62
Conclusion	p. 71
Resources	p. 72
Notes	p. 72
Head and Hand Together: A Project-Based Research Model	p. 75
The Head and Hand Split	p. 75
From Head and Hand to Research and Action	p. 77
Of Programs and Projects	p. 79
The Project-Based Research Model: Diagnose, Prescribe, Implement, Evaluate	p. 81
The Project-Based Research Model and Participatory Flexibility	p. 87
Where Are You In the Project Cycle?	p. 90
Loose Gravel	p. 92
Conclusion	p. 98
Resources	p. 99
Notes	p. 99
Diagnosing	p. 103
How to Survive on a Deserted Island	p. 103
The Impetus for Diagnosis	p. 104
Structures for a Diagnostic Process: The Core Group	p. 106
Strategies for a Diagnostic Process: Problems, Opportunities, and Issues	p. 109
The Problems Approach: Needs Assessment	p. 110
The Opportunities Approach: Asset Mapping	p. 113
Of Needs and Resources	p. 115
Loose Gravel	p. 121
Conclusion	p. 124
Resources	p. 125
Notes	p. 125
Prescribing: Researching Options	p. 129
Which Way Should You Go From Here?	p. 129
A Planning Approach	p. 131
Program Prescriptions	p. 132
The Special Case of Policy Prescriptions	p. 141
Loose Gravel	p. 148
Conclusion	p. 153
Resources	p. 154
Notes	p. 155
Implementing: When Research Is the Project	p. 157
Making Who-ville Heard	p. 157
Research as Action	p. 159
Community Research	p. 162
Target Research	p. 169
Loose Gravel	p. 180
Conclusion	p. 182
Resources	p. 183
Notes	p. 184
Evaluation	p. 189
Back to the Future, or Messing With the Space-Time Continuum	p. 189
Choices in Evaluation	p. 192
Participatory Evaluation From the Beginning	p. 199
Participatory Evaluation as an Integrated Process	p. 203
Loose Gravel	p. 208
Conclusion	p. 211
Resources	p. 212
Notes	p. 212
Beyond Information	p. 215
The Art of Paying Attention	p. 215
The Project-Based Research Cycle Revisited	p. 218
Role Models for Research as a Daily Practice	p. 221
Behind the Fun: Information Management and Information Technology	p. 223
Loose Gravel: Information Myths and Monsters	p. 227
Project-Based Research and the Future of Civilization	p. 232
In Conclusion	p. 233
Notes	p. 234
Strategic Planning	p. 237
Research Ethics and the Institutional Review Board	p. 245
Writing Proposals	p. 255
Data Resources	p. 261
Author Index	p. 263
Subject Index	p. 269
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