Research as a Tool for Community Organizations
Research on community health and social problems has been criticized by some community advocates as an activity that takes away from but does not contribute to the health and well-being of at risk communities. Criticisms of research have asserted that it may promote the careers of the researchers but does little to support the kinds of changes that communities want made, that it wastes, that it is often an expression of external domination, and that the basic problems are already known so that there is no need for further research. However, community-based researchers argue that there are important reasons to carry out research and that research can be conducted in such a way that it grow from and supports community initiated efforts. For example, Merrill Singer of the Hispanic Health Council, a community-based affiliate of CIRA, in an article entitled Knowledge for Use: Anthropology and Community-Centered Substance Abuse Research published in the journal Social Science and Medicine 37(1): 15-26, 1993, has argued that research can make a number of significant contributions to community-based organizations and community efforts to address social issues, including providing:
- Locally grounded and empirically sound information for community education efforts
- Up-to-date information for staff training and empowerment
- A tool for refuting oppressive stereotypes of the community
- A vehicle for use in advocating for the creation of culturally and socially appropriate health and social services
- A resource to direct and structure effective community interventions
- Data for demonstrating need to funders
- A weapon for supporting community struggles with external power wielders, policy makers, and dominant social institutions
- An aid for advocacy directed at influencing the direction of policy development
- A means to monitor and evaluate the efficacy of community programs
- A tool for tracking changes in the community over time and identifying emergent problems
- A financial resource for sustaining the institutional structure of the organization
- A form of therapeutic intervention with research participants, in that they commonly report that through participating in research they receive: a. Attention from a trained and sensitive listener, b. A chance to air their feelings and share their experiences, c. An opportunity to examine their life and crystallize their ideas, d. Referral for needs identified during the research, e. A feeling of contribution to their community because of the ultimate goal of community-centered research over time
The CR Core will be working to address these issues through a series of collaborative workshops. For more information, please contact Leif Mitchell. |
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| YACS@CIRA |
Thursday, 12/03
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Speaker: Nabila El-Bassel, Columbia University
Title: HIV Among Drug Users in Kazakhstan: Driving Forces and Implications for HIV Prevention & Treatment
Location: CHIP, 2006 Hillside Rd Unit 1248, Storrs, CT
Video Conference: CIRA, Ste. 200, Rm. 202, 135 College St, New Haven, CT
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| WORLD AIDS DAY |
 Tuesday, December 1 marks the 21st anniversary of World AIDS Day. All are welcome to attend a memorial service at the United Church on the Green in New Haven.
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