Chapter 8 New Wave Research: Contemporary Applied Approaches

Action Research The systematic collection & analysis of data for the purpose of taking action & making change

Participatory Action Research A subset of action research Three elements:research, adult education, sociopolitical action

Steps in Action Research Entry into the community Assessment of the situation Planning for research and action Implementation of plan and reflection Evaluation of the implementation Report and reassessment Planning future action

Evaluation Research A systematic appraisal using the methods of social research for the purpose of generating knowledge that can be used for decision making Also referred to as outcomes research

Purpose of Evaluation Research Needs assessment Formative evaluation Summative evaluation

Steps in Evaluation Research Identification of program objectives Measurement of program objectives Collection of data Analysis & interpretation of data

Pluralistic Approaches to Evaluation Research Approach selected depends upon the purpose of the evaluation Classic experiment (RCT) Evaluation case study

Health Promotion Research Systematic investigation into the processes and substance of health promotion action A broad range of studies including health policy, lifestyle, socioepidemiology Some include anthropology of health & community participation studies

Scope of Health Promotion Research Individual Family Community

Methods for Health Promotion Research Debate re traditional public health measures vs nontraditional methods Use a multiplicity of methods Question and objectives should guide design

Feminist Research valuing of women & their experiences seeing phenomenon from the perspective of women recognizing conditions that oppress women a desire to change conditions through criticism & political action

Feminist Methods Use a variety of quantitative & qualitative methods Most emphasis is on qualitative with in- depth interviews

Feminist Research (Harding) Core purpose is to create social change to benefit women a variety of methods are used to collect data but data are always analyzed within the context of women’s lives relationship b/w the researcher & participant is horizontal participant is a legitimate knower of the experience-an expert

F.R. - Philosophical Tenets Similar to critical social theory Acknowledges oppresive nature of social structures Universal role of systematic patriarchy in society Places gender centrally within research Promotes equality within the research team

Method/methodology Multiplicity of methods Select a method appropriate to the question Method ( technique for collecting evidence) Methodology (how the methods should be used) Methodology should be consistent with feminist epistemology

Feminist Methodology Values women’s subjective experiences Values importance of context in women’s lives. Method should provide a rich description of the context Values relationship of researcher & participant Values inclusion of diverse women

F.R.- Question Issues that are of primary concern to women requires women to report their experiences in their own voices allows for a structural analysis of the conditions of women’s lives & should lead to an improvement of it e.g. accessing health care, women’s work, women’s health, poverty, motherhood

F.R. - Role of the Researcher Nonhierarchical, reciprocal relationship Views self as a partner with participants Vulnerable one, shares experiences & emotions with participants as team member Reflexivity is expected of the researcher

F.R. - Sample Purposive Embrace diversity of women’s lives Include women of diverse social class, ethnic groups, cultures, etc Critical of ethnocentric bias in nursing studies

F.R. - Data Collection Oral history interviewing Multiple in-depth interviews Participant observation Focus group interviews Structured/ semi-structured interview guides Documents such a diaries, letters, photos Questionnaires and indexes

F.R. - Data Analysis Content is analyzed in terms of artifacts produced by women, about women, for women Patriarchy & ethnocentric bias are major themes examined in the analysis Participants are active partners in the data analysis process

F.R. - Findings Use descriptive, non-sexist language Portray women’s voices Structural analysis of everyday lives of women User friendly, accessible to all not just intellectuals Includes an analysis of the role of the researcher