BC Rural Health Services Workshop Approach Research Network - PDF document

BC Rural Health Services Workshop Approach Research Network  Introductions Introduction to Conducting  What is Community Based Research Community Based Research in Rural BC (CBR)? Don Manson  Why CBR? Coordinator, Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi What is Community Based Workshop Approach Research (CBR)?  The Research Process  CBR is research that is ‘‘conducted by, for, or with the participation of community members.’’  Preparation for the Field  The intention of CBR is to enhance the  Working in the Field utility of the research process by meshing the production of knowledge with  After Fieldwork community involvement/development .  From Theory to Practice The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi Why CBR? Why CBR? CBR represents a particularly timely form  Second, the prevalence of place-based development and territorial policy as a of research in the rural setting for two response to rural restructuring provides main reasons. an explicit link to CBR. Place-based development is grounded in the  First, rural areas in both developed and particularities – assets, challenges, and developing world contexts are undergoing political dynamics – of place (Woods dramatic and rapid processes of economic, 2007; Markey et al . 2008a). social, and political restructuring. The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi 1

Why CBR? Why CBR?  As researchers, if we request time and other commitments of community  CBR’s central objectives are to involve members during a period when they are community members in respectful ways stressed and stretched by change, our and to ensure that direct community research products should honour and benefits flow from the research process. return in kind that time, commitment, and contribution. The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi Why CBR? Why CBR?  Many research institutions are based in urban areas, creating a physical  It is also important to note that separation and cultural barrier between despite our preference for engaging researchers and community members. in CBR as an overall ethos to guide our inquiry, we are in many respects  CBR can help to orient researchers to the presented with no other choice by dynamics of rural and small town life that the communities in the north. may directly or tangentially affect their research topics. The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi Workshop Approach The Research Process  The Research Process  Respect.  Preparation for the Field  Flexibility.  Working in the Field  Patience.  After Fieldwork  From Theory to Practice The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi 2

The Research Process The Research Process Research Design:  Rural areas in northern BC exhibit a  There are a lot of choices and options when variety of experiences, circumstances, approaching research design; capacities, and assets that combine to shape the dynamics of the research  It needs to be developed collaboratively; process.  Often the outcome is different from your original intention, design The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi Workshop Approach The Research Process  The Research Process Key choice issues:  Preparation for the Field  Engagement / participation  Time  Working in the Field  Funding  Travel  After Fieldwork  Collaboration: Work with the willing  From Theory to Practice The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi Preparation for the Field Preparation for the Field  The first step in the research process  How to bridge differences (cultural concerns the nature and form of the and otherwise) between researchers research relationship. and community members and enhance findings by accommodating  A second important task in the different ‘ways of knowing’ preparatory stage involves gathering useful information about the community. The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi 3

Preparation for the Field Workshop Approach  The Research Process Relationships   Preparation for the Field Ownership and oversight  Level and form of community  Working in the Field  participation  After Fieldwork Gathering useful information about the  community  From Theory to Practice The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi Working in the Field Working in the Field Questions and Methods:  The active engagement and reliance on  It is important to consider how the rural community participation within CBR context may influence the relevance and makes the connection between utility of different methods. theoretical design and on-the-ground  The mail-out survey tool implementation particularly prone to  Issues of scale and technology change.  Alternatives The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi Working in the Field Working in the Field  As Nietschmann (2001, 177) describes, Visibility: the first of his ‘golden rules for the field’ are:  You will be known and visible - Conscious about what you do. – 1)Prior to leaving for the field, carefully draw up a plot plan, list of materials, etc.  Opportunity to learn - Watch commitments to confidentiality/ – 2)Immediately upon arriving at the field, throw away item No. 1 above. Now that anonymity you’ve seen the field, it obviously won’t - Respect work anyway. The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi 4

Working in the Field Working in the Field Ethics:  When does the ethics process begin?  The inclusion of vulnerable or at-risk  The process and mechanics of populations is often a focus of CBR and participant consent its desire to be more inclusive with respect to the voices constructing and  Participant anonymity/confidentiality being heard through research.  Differences between research in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi Working in the Field Working in the Field Ethics: Logistics: Part of dealing with the ebbs and flows of  Conflicts and power struggles the rural research process is having well  The demeanour of the researcher is prepared field logistics important  Dual role (impartial / honest broker).  Scheduling appointments  Understanding power relationships  Not e- mail “fire and forget”  Consideration to the rhythm of community The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi Working in the Field Workshop Approach Logistics:  The Research Process  Field safety  Preparation for the Field  Local logistics  Working in the Field Travel Accommodation  After Fieldwork  From Theory to Practice The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi 5

AFTER THE FIELDWORK Workshop Approach Separation between work in the field and  The Research Process after the field work is artificial  Preparation for the Field  Immediate Response: Honoring Participation and Commitments  Working in the Field  Checking Back with Participants  Reporting Back  After Fieldwork  Product / Changes  From Theory to Practice The Community Development Institute at UNBC The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi www.unbc.ca/cdi From Theory to Practice Group Exercise:  You are going to be doing research in a small aboriginal community.  Working with youth  Working with Elders www.unbc.ca/cdi The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi Community Development Institute at UNBC  For further information please visit our website at: www.unbc.ca/cdi Greg Halseth Don Manson halseth@unbc.ca manson@unbc.ca Thank you The Community Development Institute at UNBC www.unbc.ca/cdi 6