21224 Indigenous Community Research

Subject level: Undergraduate

Handbook description

This subject provides a foundation in basic research and evaluation skills as they can be applied in Indigenous community organisations. It introduces students to basic research skills which they may be able to use in a variety of ways, such as carrying out a community needs analysis, evaluating the performance of their organisation, conducting action research, assessing the community's response to the service, and undertaking research into community issues. Students are encouraged to evaluate and modify techniques for use in Indigenous communities.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Describe the nature and purpose of research in indigenous community organisations.
2. Describe and critically analyse community research in terms of process, purpose, applications and applicability to indigenous communities.
3. Identify and delineate research questions, data sources and appropriate methodologies for investigation for indigenous communities.
4. Describe different methodologies and their applicability to indigenous community organisations.
5. Design a small action research project including defining the question, planning, developing strategies, implementation and evaluation.
6. Describe how to collate, organise and analyse basic research data.
7. Read and evaluate common examples of community research.
8. List key issues to be included in a code of conduct if their organisation or community were to participate in a research project.

Contribution to graduate profile

This subject provides a foundation in basic research and evaluation, and how such research relates to, and can be applied in, indigenous community organisations. It introduces students to basic research skills which they may be able to use in a variety of ways, such as carrying out a community needs analysis, evaluating the performance of their organisation, conducting action research, assessing the community's response to the service, and undertaking research into community issues. Students are encouraged to evaluate and modify techniques for use in indigenous communities.

Teaching and learning strategies

Students will learn through a combination of set readings, lectures, workshop exercises, case studies and written assignments requiring them to apply concepts to their own work environment. Where appropriate, students will also be expected to conduct their own research in order to complete set assessment tasks.

Students will be encouraged to be active rather than passive learners. Each subject will feature 3 Block sessions through the semester, which may include a selection of the following teaching and learning strategies:

• full lectures or mini lectures (possibly including guest speakers)
• large group discussion
• practical group exercises
• small group discussion
• student presentations (individual or group projects)
• workshops on specific practical skills
• role play

Students are also required to maintain a regular reading schedule which may include a textbook, a prescribed set of readings and/or some selected key references. In some subjects there will also be an expectation that students will pursue their own research in areas relevant to their assessment tasks.

Central to the teaching and learning philosophy of this subject, is the integration of work based learning through assessment tasks that require students to apply theory to practice and reflect on this process in the context of their own communities and community organisations.

Specific details of teaching and learning strategies to be used in this subject will be provided during the relevant Block sessions.

Content

• The history of research in indigenous communities.

• The nature and purpose of research in indigenous community organizations
• The place of values and social construction in research
• Research ethics and protocols both as a researcher and subject of research
• Data sources—formal and informal
• Data gathering techniques
• Defining the research problem
• Identifying and assessing methodology
• Designing culturally appropriate research instruments
• Action research
• Basic data coding, collation and analysis
• Preparing a research report.
• Evaluation as research
• Collaborating with researchers

Assessment

Recommended text(s)

Because of the nature of the subject, no single book is suitable as a text. A set of readings is provided as part of the materials for this subject, and the expectation is that students will do their own research to obtain material relevant to their own research project. See the list of recommended references provided below.

Indicative references

Abraham, S. (1994) Exploratory Action Research for Manager Development, Brisbane, Action Research and Process Management Assoc.

Ansiur, Rahamn, M.D (1993) 'The Theory and Practice of Participatory Action Research' in People's Self-Development, Dhaka, University Press, Chap 6.

Anyanwu, C. (1988) 'The Technique of Participatory Research in Community Development' in Community Development Journal, Vol 23, No.1, pp 11–15.

Jeremy R. Beckett, (1988) Past and Present, Sydney, Black Books, Sydney.

Benson, G. (1989) 'Researching Community Needs' in Community Educator's Handbook, Melbourne, TAFE Victoria, Chap 4.

Bouma, G. (1993) The Research Process, Melbourne, Oxford University Press.

Carr, W And Kemmis, S. (1986) Becoming Critical: Education, Knowledge and Action Research. London, Falmer Press.

Feverstein, M. (1988) 'Finding the methods to fit the people', in Community Development Journal, Vol 23, No.1, pp 16-24.

Guba, E. and Lincoln, Y. (1990) Fourth Generation Evaluation, Newbury Park, Sage.

Marsden, D., Oakley, P and Pratt, B. (1994) Measuring the Process: Guidelines for Evaluating Social Development, Oxford, UK, INTRAC.

Owen, J. (1993) Program Evaluation: Forms and Approaches, Sydney, Allen and Unwin.

Parter, P. Jones, J, Gordon-Huppatz, Darvell, (1995) Aboriginal Women's Business Health Project Bathurst Central West Public Health Unit.

Pease, B.(1990) 'Towards Collaborative Research on Socialist Theory and Practice in Social Work' in Petruchenia, J. And Thorpe, R. Social Change and Social Welfare, Sydney, Hale and Iremonger.

SACOSS (1989) Planning Handbook, Adelaide, SACOSS

Sarantakos, S. (1993) Social Research, Melbourne, Macmillan.

Sproull, N. (1988) Handbook of Research Methods, London, Scarecrow Press.

Smeaton, E. (1997) Family Dreaming – Support Programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disabilities NSW Ageing & Disability Department Sydney.

Wadsworth, Y. (1989) Do It Yourself Social Research, Sydney, Allen and Unwin.

Wadsworth, Y. (1991) Everyday Evaluation on the Run, Melbourne, Action Research Issues Assoc.