Community-based research
processes: addressing the needs
of multiple constituencies
Joan Farkas, Michelle Murdoch,
Cathie Scott, Laura Dreuth Zeman
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
Overview
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Commonalities
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Project examples
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How to bridge a community-university
divide?
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
In common
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Research focus on issues that have relevance
within community
Making space for voices generally not heard
Working with multiple constituencies
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University-community
Valuing differing expertise
Different needs
Political influence
Conflict
Action focus
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
Making space for voices
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Mother’s wrongfully accused of abuse
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Unemployed, underemployed and
employed women who have disabilities
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Women who are living in poverty
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
Making space for voices
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Project example: WAFI - Photovoice Project
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Three goals:
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Cathie Scott & Joan Farkas on behalf of WAFI Working Group
to enable people to record and reflect on community strengths
and problems
to promote dialogue about important issues through group
discussion and photographs
to engage policy makers
(Wang, 1998)
Website: www.photovoice.com/index.html
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
I can’t move
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Slept in a
port-a-potty
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Two weeks to go
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Working with multiple
constituencies
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University-community
Valuing differing expertise
Different needs
Political influence
Conflict
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
Multiple Constituencies
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Project example: Photovoice
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University-community
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Assigning values to CD process
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Measuring outcomes
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Fostering relationships among researchers, front-line
workers and participants
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
Multiple constituencies
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Project example: Women with disabilities and
adaptive technology in the workplace:
participatory action research and applied
principles of independent living
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Michelle Murdoch, Diana L. Gustafson & the
Independent Living Resource Centre
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Valuing differing expertise
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Different needs
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
Multiple constituencies
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Project example: I love my children
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Laura Dreuth Zeman
Political influence
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CPS
Parents
Student researchers
Tenure clock
Journal reviewers
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Conflict
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Examples from three projects
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
How do we bridge the communityuniversity divide? Questions to consider.
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Participant perspective
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Front line worker perspective
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How do I find research?
How do I find the time to read it?
How do I apply it?
University perspective
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How do I participate without being exploited?
How do I engage in research that has meaning to people in the
community?
How do I do participatory research and still maintain my job?
All
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How do you engage in this type of research without letting it consume
you?
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
Acknowledgements
Women and A Fair Income Working Group Members
Current: Joan Farkas, Susan Gillies, Fran Guindon, Beryl Kootenay, Lynda Laughlin,
Donna McPhee, Maggie Pompeo, Cathie Scott, Billie Thurston, Erica Welsh
Past: Julie Black, Liza Lorrenzetti, Lillian Parent, Pam Parry, Pascal Ujuok, Patricia
Vanbeselaere
Our Sponsors and Collaborators
Institute for Gender Research
Women’s Program, Status of Women
Canada
City of Calgary – Community and
Neighbourhood Services
Family and Community Support Services
Special Projects, University of Calgary
Department of Sociology,
Faculty of Social Sciences
National Homelessness Initiative
The Women’s Centre of Calgary
Department of Community Health
Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
Acknowledgements
Women with Disabilities
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Canadian Centre on Disability Studies
Vancouver - October 15, 2005
Contact information
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www.fp.ucalgary.ca/wafi
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wafi@ucalgary.ca
http://wwww.ilrc.nf.ca
dreuth@siu.edu
Vancouver - October 15, 2005