Researching

Community
Lecture 5
Dr. Bela Nawaz
 “
Researching community is important to assess the community
problems, needs, and assets for making decision when to begin
implementing
changes in community

“Assessment focuses on “the examination of what is, on what is

likely to be, or on what ought to be “

(Lauffer,1984)
 Benefits of community Assessment
 The community development assessment process is directed toward supporting
the creation of a strategic plan that will guide a comprehensive development
effort and involve other citizens in the process.

 This assessment also provides specific information that helps leaders identify
opportunities to be exploited and threats that need to be considered when
creating and implementing a strategic plan.
 Types of community Assessment
There are two types of assessment:
1. Need assessment
2. Asset mapping

 Together both types study the nature of the problems, the coping
capacities of those involved, the relevant systems involved, the available
or needed resources, and the motivation to resolve problems
 Need Assessment
 Need assessment starts with the identification of problems. What is seen as a problem can vary from place to
place and group to group in the same community.

 Analyzing community problems is a way of thinking carefully about a problem or issue before acting on a
solution.
 It first involves identifying reasons a problem exists such as social structures, cultural traditions,
ideology, politics, lack of knowledge, lack of access to healthy conditions, etc.

 Second, identifying driving forces that push it toward change such as dissatisfaction with the way
things are, public opinion, policy change, ongoing public education efforts, existing alternatives to
unhealthy or unacceptable activity or conditions, etc. for possible solutions and a plan for
improvement.
 Need Assessment
 Criteria to identify community problems:
▫ the problem occurs too frequently (frequency)
▫ the problem has lasted for a while (duration)
▫ the problem affects many people (scope, or range)
▫ the problem is disrupting to personal or community life, and possibly intense (severity)
▫ the problem deprives people of legal or moral rights (equity)
▫ the issue is perceived as a problem (perception)

 This last criterion, perception, is an important one, and can also help indicate readiness for
addressing the issue within the community.
 Need Assessment
Example:
 Kids gather on the street. Sometimes they use drugs, and sometimes, they
get rowdy.

 What is the problem here?

 The drug use, the rowdiness, the gathering itself? OR
 Is it possible that kids have nowhere else to go and few positive
alternatives for engagement?
 Need Assessment
 Needs are gaps between problem and its solution. Or a gap or
discrepancy between a present state (what is) and a desired
state (what should be).

 The need is neither the present nor the future state; it is the gap
between them.
 Need Assessment
 From the previous example, one can assess the need for having parks for
kids or establishing a library so that without indulging into drug addiction
or becoming rowdy, kids may engage themselves in sports and improve
their knowledge capacity in the library.
 Identifying gaps and make conclusions about the needs that will ultimately
help to fill them is called “need assessment”.
Need Assessment
 Asset Mapping
 Asset mapping is a technique used to document a community’s existing resources, strengths
rather than the weaknesses of the community. It also relies heavily on developing partnerships and
organizing across the community in order to identify ways of building on local assets to improve
the quality of life. The goal is to develop trust among various partners and to operate on the basis
of consensus.

 Asset mapping begins with the philosophy that all local residents, regardless of age, gender, race,
ethnic background, place of residence, or other characteristics, can play an effective role in
addressing important local matters.
 Asset Mapping
 It has three important characteristics:
 Asset-based: Community development efforts begin by developing an understanding of what
exists in the community right now — the abilities of local residents, associations, and
institutions. It does not begin by focusing on what is wrong with the community or what may
be missing.
 Internally Focused: Strategic planning or priority setting focuses on assets found within the
community and does not rely upon the advice of outside experts or consultants.
 Relationship Driven: Local people, informal organizations and institutions work hard to
connect with one another in order to be sure they are working as a team, and not against one
another. This means that good communication is essential.
 Asset Mapping
 Local people and organizations are encouraged to explore how problems might be interrelated,
and to respond to these issues in a coordinated, collaborative fashion. Every individual is a
potential community asset, and everyone has assets that can be used for community building.

 For example, the mother who volunteers to organize games and sports for neighborhood
children after school, the farmers' cooperative that makes it possible for farmers to buy seed
and fertilizer cheaply and to send their product directly to market without a middle man, the
library that provides books and Internet access to everyone, the bike and walking path where
city residents can exercise -- all represent resources that enhance community life.
 Key Actors in Assessment Process
1. People directly affected by problem

They know best what effects those conditions have on

their lives, and including them in the planning process
is more likely to produce a plan that actually speaks to
their needs.
 Key Actors in Assessment Process
2. Community based organizations.
 These community-based organizations often have a deep understanding of
the community
 They have a strong empathic connection with the populations they serve.

 They can be helpful both by sharing their knowledge and by recruiting

people from marginalized populations to contribute to the assessment.
 Key Actors in Assessment Process
3. Government officials
Elected and appointed officials are often those who can help or
hinder a community change effort.

Engaging them in planning and carrying out an assessment

helps to ensure that they will take the effort seriously and work
to make it successful.
 Key Actors in Assessment Process
4. Influential people & Activists
 Influential people are identified as leaders because of their positions -- college
presidents, directors of hospitals and other major organizations, corporate CEOs --
because of the prestige of their professions -- doctors, professors, judges, clergy -- or
because they are known to be people of intelligence, integrity, and good will who
care about the community.

 Community activists are who have been involved in addressing policy or issues that
could come up in the course of the assessment have a stake in planning the
assessment as well.
 Key Actors in Assessment Process
5. People affected by Interventions
 People whose jobs or lives could be affected by the eventual actions
taken as a result of the assessment.

 These include teachers, police, emergency room personnel,

landlords, and others who might have to react if new community
policies or procedures are put in place.
 Key Actors in Assessment Process
6. Businesses
 Especially those that employ people from populations of concern. The livelihoods of
local business owners could be affected by the results of the assessment, as could the
lives of their employees.

 After that you need to create a planning group that represents all stakeholders and
mirrors the diversity of the community, but is also a signal to community members that
they are part of the process. They are more apt to trust that process and support
whatever comes out of it.
 Methods of Assessment/Mapping
Secondary Sources/Data
 Community workers can find information about communities in a variety of existing
information, or from secondary sources. For example, many communities make
available data on basic demographics, including number of people, sex, employment,
and income.

 A community may also offer a directory that lists social agencies in the area. Using
these sources, workers can learn about who lives there and what some of the local
issues are.
 Methods of Assessment/Mapping
 Secondary sources of information can be found in local libraries
within community agencies, public libraries, schools, colleges and
universities, as well as provincial and federal departments.

 Departments of health, education, justice, and social services keep

statistics. Sometimes reports are easily available. National, provincial,
local, and community newspapers may also be good sources
 Methods of Assessment/Mapping
 Surveys are a useful method of  Surveys distributed and returned  The questionnaire must be
obtaining information about by mail, surveys administered by designed so as not to be biased,
knowledge, attitudes, attributes telephone, and surveys misleading or ambiguous.
or practices of the general conducted in person or face-to-
population. face.
 Finally, analysis should be done
by someone skilled in survey
 Surveys are predetermined sets  Surveys results can be work and statistics
of questions with response generalized to the whole
options which are asked of all population. The strategy is to
individuals in a group or sample select a representative sample
of people. (best done on a random basis)
 Methods of Assessment/Mapping
Focus group is a specialized and Participants can be selected The strategy is to begin with
structured interview of a group of at random or chosen to a set of pre-selected
6 to 12 people that has been represent different groups questions but allow for
successfully used by community within the community and flexibility so that the group
developers to obtain insights of they are not told exactly can expand upon ideas. Five
community needs and reactions to what the interviewer wants or six questions are usually
community development to know, so that they will be enough, with the more direct
programs. more likely to give answers and detailed questions
that aren't influenced by coming later in the session.
what they think is wanted.
 Methods of Assessment/Mapping
 Focus groups are very effective in getting participants involved in an issue and making them feel that their
viewpoints count, group interaction often stimulates discussion and produces data and insights which may be
difficult to secure through individual interviews, surveys or secondary data.

 Focus group interviews are relatively easy and inexpensive to conduct. All that is required is a moderator;
 to record the discussion (it could be taped),
 to keep the discussion flowing and encourage participation relevant to the subject without
influencing or intimidating participants,
 to ask a predefined set of questions,
 to arrange an adequate meeting room, and some refreshments or light snacks.
 Methods of Assessment/Mapping
Key Informant Interviews
 Selected individuals in a community who are involved with or have knowledge about the community, of
particular situations, its citizens and history.

 Key informant interviews can be used to define the nature and extent of an issue, to explain important
issues related to a particular situation, to identify community groups or organizations interested or involved
in an issue, to get an insider's view of the situation, or to describe possible goals or approaches from the
perspective of those who are involved with or affected by the issue.

 Key informant interviews are a quick and relatively inexpensive way to define the nature and extent of an
issue and to identify potential solutions. These interviews help you to see the community situation from
several different perspectives.
 Methods of Assessment/Mapping
 Key informant interviews are also a way of identifying who are the movers and
shakers in a community related to a particular issue.

 Key informant interviews also require a fair amount of time to make contact,
arrange meetings and conduct interviews.

 Moreover, it is possible that the views of key informants may not reflect the
views of all citizens or groups in the community.
 Methods of Assessment/Mapping
Environmental Media Scan
 Based upon the assumption that community situations and issues are reflected in the content of local media (newspapers,
radio, television, newsletters, etc.).
 Issues within the community that are important to a large number of people should surface more often, and there should
be indications of the importance and perceptions of different groups.
 The strategy is to form a scanning team, with each member being assigned a small number of media outlets to review on
a regular basis. They record the topics appearing in their assigned outlets. Results from each team member's scan are
then compiled on a periodic basis.
▪ Media scans have the advantage of being relatively inexpensive to conduct because there is enough volunteer help
available. This method is effective at capturing changes over time. When media outlets are properly selected, they
provide input from a variety of community groups.
 Methods of Assessment/Mapping
Public/Community Forums
 gatherings where citizens discuss important issues at a well-publicized location and time.
 tend to be both larger in number of participants and broader in scope
 give people of diverse backgrounds a chance to express their views, and are also a first step toward
understanding the community's needs and resources.
 informs the group about where the community is and where the members would like to go with a set of
short presentations at the beginning of the forum describing the situation or topic to be discussed or
outlining several options, viewpoints or approaches to be considered.
 Moderator leads the discussions of strengths, weaknesses and outcomes based on the presentations and asks a
series of predetermined questions in order to gather the information needed.
 Methods of Assessment/Mapping
 Often, there are a series of community forums held so that follow-up discussion can occur or so that a wider
range of individuals in the community have an chance to participate.

 The major advantage of a community forum is the openness that is present by having public discussion in which
anyone can participate. It also provides people an opportunity to hear various viewpoints and perspectives
explained, which leads to better understanding of others in the community.

▪ Disadvantages arise when not all relevant groups are represented at the forum and when not, every individual
feels comfortable expressing his or her thoughts in front of a larger group. If the topic being discussed is a
controversial one, there is a danger of the group being divided into "for" and "against," or the meeting may turn
into a shouting match.