Community Research An Introduction for Student Researchers Stergios Roussos, Paul Brown, Linda Cameron, Robin DeLugan Health Sciences Research Institute Task Force for Community Engaged Scholarship UC Merced Alliance for Community Research and Development April 20, 2012

Workshop Objectives 1.Understand why we do community research? 2.Understand your roles and opportunities in community research?

Overall Goal Ensure that all communities can easily and effectively understand and improve what matters most to them.

South Merced Mexican- Americans BABY BOOMERS Young Black Men First Generation College Graduates china Women Fresno People Living in Poverty COMMUNITIES

Changing Face of Merced

Community Research Relationships Community Research Relationships Transforming the Nature of Research and Development Communities Institutes of Higher Education Support Organizations Shared Vision & Outcomes

Community Research Illustrations 1. What does “it” look like? 2. How would it benefit my personal and professional development?

Community Discussion 1. What matters most to you? 2. What would the “dream” relationship look like between communities and student researchers?

Overall Goal Ensure that all communities can easily and effectively understand and improve what matters most to them.

Community Research Across Sectors Common Purpose Health/Service Organizations Faith Community Government Civic Organizations Schools Business

Key Challenges in the “Research” of Community Research 1.Complexity in design 2.Delayed outcomes 3.Inadequate indicators 4.Estimating “dose” 5.Attributing “cause and effect” 6.Evolving and adaptive nature of community work

Key Challenges in the “Community-Side” of Community Research 1.No time 2.No money 3.No measurement and other research skills 4.No research resources (e.g., data, databases, tools to help with measurement) 5.Research seems (is) irrelevant 6.Research seems (is) burdensome

Step 1. Join Interested Student and Community Members Step 3. Merced County Rated as “Most Awesome” Place on Planet Step 2. The Mechanism for Community Research to Improve Communities

Types of Community Partners 1.Single Entity One organization, one program 2.Partnership or Collaboration A group or network of organizations addressing a shared concern 3.Community-wide Initiatives

Categories of Community Research 1.Formative/Developmental One organization, one program 2.Process/Fidelity with Implementation 3.Summative/Outcome 4.Impact/Effectiveness

1. What decisions must be made? Who cares? – Who will use the results? What do they care about? – What matters? 2. What evidence will suffice? (type of data, analysis) What is credible? 3. What should the final report look like? (format, presentation) 4. What questions may lead to the required evidence? 5. Have these questions been answered before? Must we re-answer or re- prove something? – Why? 6. Conduct the assessments to answer the key questions. 7. Analyze the data. 8. Produce a report with meaningful evidence. 9. Share & use the results. “Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers” - Voltaire Community Research STOP POINT? STOP POINT? Key Steps in Community Research

Community Research Relationships Community Research Relationships Transforming the Nature of Research and Development Communities Institutes of Higher Education Support Organizations Shared Vision & Outcomes

The Work Ahead 1.Clarify student and community criteria for success and the resources for success 2.Start ongoing training and support 3.Match and monitor community research 4.Hold regular convenings to review, celebrate and redirect

Swing is the mythical moment in rowing. When the energy an oarsman puts into the boat seems to perfectly propel the hull forward, … when the crew moves in unison and the boat slides over the water, when the output seems to generate more energy and a grueling pace seems infinitely sustainable, a boat and the rowers aboard feel "swing.” - By Coach Jay Swing

Swing is trust. Trust between the individual rowers, and between the crew and coxswain. Trust that everyone is doing their job and you only have to worry about doing your own. Trust that you can do your own and the boat will fly because of everyone. - By Coach Jay