Chapter 3 Community Psychology

Kurt Lewin introduced integrating knowledge and action.

Laboratory Control of phenomenon studied, analysis of data
and interpretation of data.
Most significant locations are the most important for researchers
Control: Sharing control with community member can evaluate
the knowledge gained.
Values and action are central to community psychology
Priorities define the research through these questions:

1- What values and assumptions do we bring

to our work?

Three Philosophies of Science for Community Psychology

Research
Each a family of related thoughts
1. Postpositivistm: Knowledge is built through shared
understanding, using rigorous methods and standards of the
scientific community. Emphasis is placed on the
understanding cause and effect relationships, hypothesistesting, modeling and experimental methods.
Positivism: pursuit of objectivity and value free neutrality,
cause and effect etc.
But no observer is value free which led to post positivism, try
to be objective as much as possible.
2. Constructivism: Knowing is the product of social
connection between researcher and research participant.
Knowing is through connection and collaboration.
They try to understand what everything means to people
who experience it.
Qualitative methods are the best approach.
Not eliminate bias but rather know make assumptions
explicit
3. Critical: Knowledge is shaped by power relationships. They
ask who has the power?
Most community research has post positivism features but
constructivism is increasing.

For example: You want to study impacts of a neighborhood

on children
Postpositivism: structural characteristics
Constructivism: How the census affected the children, what is it
like to live there>
Critical: how different stakeholders define the neighborhood.
Problem definition: taking stand on social issues
How will research relate to action?
usefulness of research depends on social census in definition of
problems, causes and response. Conflicts mushroom when we
dont agree on definition of the problems such as sexuality and
drug use.
Maybe participants disagree that this is the problem.
How about empirical research?
Boldly and explicitly stating ones premise and values can actually
improve research by clarifying the assumptions upon which it is
based.
Often times the powerful views become conventional wisdom. For
example students in school are seldom asked for their opinion
although they are the ones most affected by decisions.
Example: feminist women often show how their own
experiences influence theory own assumptions.
Empowering participants allows better analysis of the research.
2. How can we promote community participation and
collaboration in research?
The quality and usefulness of research depends on the context in
which they were collected particularly relationship with
researcher.
Research should be like a cooperative partnership, reciprocating
It shouldnt be data mining where only the researcher gets the
benefit.

Collaborative research allows you to gain insights that you

wouldnt have gained otherwise.
Partnership before the beginning
Resources of community and researcher must be assessed
first. Both sides must devote time and energy.
Researches shouldnt use words to alienate themselves
such as empirical
Research design
Can make a panel made up of citizens and organizations.
They can also include citizens as part of the research team itself.
Limitations: lack of control groups limit evaluation of
effectiveness.
Involves compromise
Takes time
Strengths:
Participants are more willing and genuine
You can return to the same place again Can use experiments
Participants help in interpretation of results.
if there is gold to be found in community research, it lies in the
process of work
Research Products and Impact
Who is actually benefiting. Should be more than just journals and
so on. Will it inform future decisions? How can it speak to policy
makers?
To know about validity, we should ask two questions:
1
Does the research account for the influence of macro
systems and other social forces especially social injustice, on
the lives of individuals and communities? Were these forces
measured ?
2
Does the research promote the system forces and to
become involved in liberating social change ? (did
participants gain skills, articulate their views, or make
decisions?
Thise have to be considered before the beginning but also
after the end.

Limitations to participatory approaches

1-Not all research needs to be participatory
2- Time consuming
3- Open to critisim if citizrns are displeased by the finidngd
4- Needs training on sensitivity
5- Doesnt magicaly earase differentials
3. How do we understand the cultural and social contexts
of this research?
Must address issues of diversity and different cultures
4. At what ecological levels of analysis will we conduct this
research?
Must explicitly make choices on levels of individual vs social
focus.