Researching men’s sheds
What do we know?
Research Approaches, Methods, Studies, Evidence
Professor Barry Golding, University of Ballarat, AMSA Patron
Australian Men’s Sheds Association Conference
Monday 28 November 2013, 12.30-1.00pm
Some research approaches
• Case studies of individual sheds and/or shedder
experiences
• Comparative studies across many sheds, including
between nations
• The study of particular phenomena (eg men’s health, wellbeing,
learning, depression), interviewing and/or surveying shedders
• Longitudinal studies following impact and outcomes
over time
• Quasi-experimental studies comparing shedders with
non-Shedders.
• Narrative or systematic literature reviews and metaanalyses.
Important starting observations
• Some self evident things are very difficult to
prove (“You don’t need a weatherman to tell which way the wind blows”,
Bob Dylan)
• Some simple, everyday phenomena and
outcomes are still unable to be explained in terms
of simple, single ‘causes’, e.g. gravity, poverty, depression)
• Research on people and communities (and sheds)
that produces ‘certain’, scientific knowledge is
limited by ethical and practical considerations.
• What we find out depends on how we study it
and what assumptions we bring to the ‘problem’.
A tree (shed) research analogy
• What is a tree’s role? (to photosynthesize, to recycle carbon
& nutrients, to complement an ecosystem?)
• Which discipline should we use to study it? (a
botanist, forester, conservationist, artist?)
• Why should we do the study? (to prove or confirm a
hunch, to make a new breakthrough?)
• What level of proof is required, who needs it
and for what reasons? (to decide on a tree’s value, fate or
funding?)
• Or are we interested instead in the forest? (and
its relationship to other trees, plants, insects, animals, humans, etc)
Typical Research Methods
•
•
•
•
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Interview
Survey
Use of existing statistics
Literature review
Most studies are strengthened, as in building, by
triangulation
• Who is the research subject? (shedder, coordinator,
community, partner, family?)
• What role are we exploring? (health, learning, wellbeing,
community contribution etc?)
• From which disciplinary base, on what assumptions, for
whom, for what purpose, and for what level of proof?
Major Shed-Based, Mixed Method
(Survey and Interview) Studies
• Men’s sheds in Australia: Learning through
community contexts (Golding et al., 2007) cited
47 times, 28 times externally.
• Men’s sheds in Ireland: Learning through
community contexts (Carragher, 2013) not cited
• Men’s sheds in Australia: Effects on physical
health and mental well-being, Ultrafocus
Report for beyondblue, Full report (in
preparation, October 2013)
Some other important shed studies
• Men’s sheds: Exploring the evidence base for best practice Hayes,
R. & Williamson, M. (2007) La Trobe Uni; cited 11 times.
• Men’s sheds: A strategy to improve men’s health Misan, G. et al. (2008)
Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, cited 7 times
• Houses and sheds in Australia: An exploration of the genesis
and growth of neighbourhood houses and men's sheds in
community settings. B Golding, H Kimberley, A Foley, M Brown - Australian Journal of Adult
Learning, (2008 ) cited 11 times
• More than a place to do woodwork: A case study of a
community-based men’s shed Ballinger, M. et al. (2009) cited 17 times
• Older men's participation in community‐based men's sheds
programmes J Ormsby, M Stanley, K Jaworski - Health & Social Care in the Community ( 2010)
University of South Australia, cited 9 times
• The Taieri Blokes Shed: An ethnographic study Sunderland, J. (2013)
Masters Thesis (in preparation), Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin New Zealand.
Meta-analyses
Critical reviews of all of the literature, biased towards peer refereed publications
• A narrative review of men’s sheds literature:
reducing social isolation and promoting men’s
health (N. Wilson & R. Cordier, 2013, Health and Social Care in the
Community, 21 (5): 451-463. [University of Sydney and JCU])
• Men’s sheds and other gendered interventions
for older men: A systematic review and
scoping of the evidence base (C. Milligan, S. Dowrick,
et al., 2013 A Report for the Liverpool- Lancaster Collaborative
(LiLaC) and Age UK, [Lancaster University, UK])
Key themes in the research
from the UK Lancaster University (2013) review of Millgan et al.
• Links between social activity and health and
wellbeing
• The value of qualitative insights into social capital
• Older men and masculinity
• Theoretical frameworks (WHO Determinants of
Disadvantage & HIMM [Health, Illness, Men and
Masculinities])
• Differences amongst older men and limited scope
for successful interventions
Some critiques from a meta-analysis
after Milligan et al (2103 in the UK)
• There is as yet no substantive evidence that
involvement in men’s sheds has any significant
effect on the health of older men
• The evidence of positive effects on mental health
and wellbeing is more extensive.
• The benefits are particularly for men
experiencing social isolation and loneliness
• Sheds encourage men of diverse backgrounds,
with specific health conditions, and have benefits
for caregivers.
Wilson and Cordier (2013) argue that
• “Most of the evidence on health and well-being
outcomes[from sheds] is either self report or
anecdotal; what research has been conducted is either
small scale or focused on men’s learning.”
• “The range of variables that might contribute towards
best practice in Men’s Sheds has not yet been
adequately conceptualised, measured, tested or
understood.”
• “The Men’s Sheds movement is at a crossroads in
terms of their wider male health role.” (ie The overt
resistance in sheds to foregrounding health as an agent for male
health initiatives presents sheds and health departments who
might fund them with a conundrum)
Need for new research
after Milligan et al. (2013) UK review
• Good quality research for potential funders and
guidance for good practice.
• Research on gendered interventions, particularly
through men’s sheds for older men.
• Research that brings together separate theories
of masculinity and social isolation.
• Longitudinal and comparative studies.
• Mixed method studies with validated survey
tools.
Some New Findings (Synthesis from DRAFT
findings of the Australian beyondblue Oct 2013 study)
• Men’s sheds are a positive experience overall for members.
• Significant life events often lead to membership, giving men
a chance to give back, enhance self esteem and confidence.
• Men’s sheds are ideally placed to reach some priority
demographics for health intervention (regional, low SES).
• There are clear health benefits to sheds, mainly through
improved social connectedness.
• Awareness of mental health issues is improved through
sheds.
• The self-directed nature of sheds appeals to members, who
are open to new relationships and information in authentic
and accepting masculine contexts.
A shedder says how simple it is …
• “Long may the shed continue. I live alone. I
meet blokes, I make things, the Shed makes it
for me” Graves, K. (2001) Shedding the light on men’s sheds, City of
Bendigo)