Community-based Research and Evaluation

CBR has been a resource for research and evaluation at the community level with many communities. Our experienced group of community builders and extensive network of community resources can be a support to you in your own community based research efforts. Our many resources are available to you to find the reasons for and the benefits of community- based research and evaluation.

The guiding philosophy for community-based research and evaluation is that communities are built upon the successful discovery and mobilization of the assets and resources of the individuals, groups, and businesses in a community. This discovery and mobilization becomes a reality when there is an environment where people can get to know one another, develop friendships, and have conversations about the potential of community.

We see community-based research as a process through which the method, the information, the outcomes, and the actions are determined by the community. Our role is to support that process through connections and expertise from working with a variety of other communities on similar initiatives.

Edmonton People with Developmental Disabilities (EPDD)
Susan is helping to guide the evaluation of the Community Capacity Building initiative happening in the Edmonton Region. Using the input and participation of many, the "Doer" group is creating a tool box of evaluation for the region. Stay Tuned!

YouthOne
A project through the Computer Learning Network, lead by the Support Network is now a reality. CBR is the project evaluator. This project is a dynamic, exciting youth website developed, created, and maintained here in Edmonton, Alberta. Call: (780) 482-0198 or view the website at: http://www.youthone.com for more information.

Jasper Place Gateway Foundation (JPGF) RIFF/RAFF
The Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) funded 2 years of research. The purpose of this research was to assess the efficacy of an Asset-based Community Development process called Community Capacity Building and Asset Mapping© (CCB & AM©) in creating a "Healthy Community" movement and applicability of the process for use in Community Care and Public Health practice. This innovative partnership between a geographic community association (the Jasper Place Gateway Foundation), the private sector (Community Building Resources), and an academic institution (University of Alberta, Centre for Health Promotion Studies) has yielded an active local group call RIFF RAFF, which became involved in a community indicator project. Some results of which have been published at two professional conferences.

Community Builders - Listen and Learn I and II:
After three years of Community Capacity Building and Asset Mapping© with the Steps to Capacity Success© we spent time in the summer of 1997 revisiting our community friends to see what was happening. The results of this reflection on community building are collected in a paper entitled "Listen and Learn...The Answers are with Communities". The paper is available at our office. The summary is here on this web site, (called Listen and Learn I).

In the spring of 1998 a further reflection - Listen and Learn II, with more of our community friends was done. This time the "doers" (some of our community friends), were the question-makers and askers. Some of the results were presented at the CDS '98 Conference in Kansas City. The summary of Listen and Learn II is on this web site.

How We Can Work With You:

• Facilitate the development of effective and probing research questions.
• Facilitate the development of reasonable and attainable research goals, objectives, and timelines.
• Provide creative, innovative, and revealing methods of discovery and community reflection.
• Coordinate the collection, organization, sorting, and storage of research information.
• Provide expertise in database management, sorting, and coding research information.
• Support the development of ways to share and implement the learning from the research or evaluation.

The Cost:

• The cost of this support varies according to the support and expertise communities require.

The cost is negotiable and we can provide assistance in finding funding.

Click here to see examples of who we have worked with.

For Information or to discuss how we can work with you, phone, fax or e-mail the workshop facilitators.