Community-Based Research
Thanks to Sandi Regan from MCC for the following Summer Institute session summary:
COMMUNITY–BASED RESEARCH: Using Community Partnerships in Undergraduate Courses
Presenters:
Michele Raminez, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology
ramirezm@pmc.edu
Robert Shea, PhD, Director, Center for Inclusive Leadership and Social Responsibility
shearobe@pmc.edu
Pine Manor College
This session addressed the experiences of doing community-based projects and research with students.
Pine Manor College was granted a Learn & Serve America Grant from MA Campus Compact to integrate
a CBR focus in two undergraduate research methods course.
The workshop focused on information about how to make community partnerships work and expectations for students learning community-based research methods.
Tips:
* identify research topics with community members
* gather research with community partners
* make equal partners with students and community partners - work as a team
* involve students from the start and in all steps
* provide stipend to community partners – co-educators, serve on panel at college
* create timeline
* encourage community partners to be comfortable giving constructive feedback
* select community partners careful - key to success
* set clear expectations for each group
* learn and understand abilities and limitations of team members
* train faculty, staff and partners in CBR
* need agency commitment to project
* identify challenges
* instill sensitivity to ethical concerns and needs of diverse community
Learning Objectives for Students
• Project is the primary text
• Gain experience of real world collection of research in the community
• 1st semester – gather statistics and learn how to research
• 2nd semester – do research project
• give ownership to students of obtaining research and project
• develop critical thinking with the opportunity of real world problem-solving
• Project involves social action and encourages action-based outcomes – national affiliations, conferences and reports, etc.