21224 Indigenous Community Research

UTS: Business: Management
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Undergraduate

Result Type: Pass fail, no marks

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:

describe the nature and purpose of research in indigenous community organisations
describe and critically analyse community research in terms of process, purpose, applications and applicability to indigenous communities
identify and delineate research questions, data sources and appropriate methodologies for investigation for indigenous communities
describe different methodologies and their applicability to indigenous community organisations
design a small action research project including defining the question, planning, developing strategies, implementation and evaluation
describe how to collate, organise and analyse basic research data
read and evaluate common examples of community research
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 three 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 organisations
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

Assessment item 1: Seminar Participation

Weighting:

20%

Assessment item 2: Presentation of research project

Weighting:

40%

Assessment item 3: Final research paper submission

Weighting:

40%

Required 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 Association

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

Contact

21224 Indigenous Community Research

Handbook description

Subject objectives/outcomes

Contribution to graduate profile

Teaching and learning strategies

Content

Assessment

Assessment item 1: Seminar Participation

Assessment item 2: Presentation of research project

Assessment item 3: Final research paper submission

Required text(s)

Indicative references

Other recommended research ethic readings and online information