1. Using Appreciative Inquiry to Research Young People’s Views of Community Cohesion
Presentation at the ‘Duty, Duty, Duty’ Conference, December 2008
Caroline Sharp
National Foundation for Educational Research

2. What is Appreciative Inquiry?
A positive approach to organisational development in 4 stages:
Discovering
Envisioning
Designing
Delivering

3. About the study Two secondary schools in SE England
Worked with young people and staff
Young people interviewed peers and staff, analysed and presented findings to the LA

4. Discovering Young People’s Views
Community is about friends and involvement
A cohesive school is friendly, supportive and empowering
Effective strategies included trips, music/sports events and Year 7 induction

5. Envisioning the future
Activities for young people and adults
Events and celebrations, inviting social mixing
Teams, activities, clubs empowering young people

6. Designing and Delivering
Young people presented an action plan for consideration by their school and LA
Several new initiatives have resulted

7. Designing and Delivering
The report will be available from the NFER website in Spring 09
nfer.ac.uk