Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T23:07:39.347Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Community Research Methodology: Working with New Migrants to Develop a Policy Related Evidence Base

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 September 2010

Lisa Goodson  and
Jenny Phillimore
Lisa Goodson
Affiliation:
Institute of Applied Social Studies, School of Social Policy, College of Social Science, The University of Birmingham E-mail: [email protected]
Jenny Phillimore
Affiliation:
Institute of Applied Social Studies, School of Social Policy, College of Social Science, The University of Birmingham
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper reflects on a community research project aimed at building the capacity of Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs). The project intended to identify and collect a robust and reliable evidence base to equip RCO leaders with the relevant information required to engage in policy lobbying to raise awareness of the barriers faced by refugees when trying to access ESOL and support for mental health issues, education and employment. The main mechanism used to collect evidence was a team of 16 paid community researchers from a range of refugee backgrounds. This paper considers the rationale for adopting a community research approach, the meaning of community research to those involved, as well as the methodological challenges and practical concerns associated with the approach.

Type
Articles
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 9 , Issue 4 , October 2010 , pp. 489 - 501
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alcoff, L. and Potter, E. (1993), Feminist Epistemologies, London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Arnstein, S. (1969), ‘A ladder of citizen participation’, JAIP, 35, 4, 216–224.Google Scholar
Barnes, M., Davies, A. and Tew, J. (2000), ‘Valuing experience: users’ experience of compulsion under the Mental Health Act 1983’, Mental Health Review, 5, 3, 3–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bloch, A. (2002), ‘Refugees’ opportunities and barriers in employment and training’, DWP Research Report Series, 179.Google Scholar
Braithwaite, R., Cockwill, S., O'Neill, M. and Rebane, D. (2007), ‘Insider participatory action research in disadvantaged post industrial areas: the experience of community members as they become community based action researchers’, Action Research, 5, 1, 5–10.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Byrne, M. (2001), ‘The Learning Centre Peer Research Project’, Edinburgh Youth Social Inclusion Partnership and the Learning Centre, Craigmillar.Google Scholar
Carr, W. and Kemmis, S. (1986), Becoming Critical: Education, Knowledge and Action Research, London: Falmer Press.Google Scholar
Clark, M. and Glynn, T. (2008), ‘Two decades of change: celebrating user involvement’, Centre for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health, University of Birmingham.Google Scholar
Clough, R., Green, B., Hawkes, B., Raymond, G. and Bright, L. (2006), Older People as Researchers: Evaluating a Participative Project, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Google Scholar
Clough, R., Leamy, M., Miller, V. and Bright, L. (2004), Housing Decisions in Later Life, London: Palgrave Macmillan.Google Scholar
Denzin, N. and Lincoln, Y. (1998), The Landscape of Qualitative Research: Theories and Issues, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Elliott, E., Watson, A. J. and Harries, U. (2002), ‘Harnessing expertise: involving peer interviewers in qualitative research with hard-to-reach populations’, Health Expectations, 5, 172–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eversole, R. and Routh, R. (2005), ‘Collaborative research as an anti-poverty tool: a research partnership between police and indigenous Australians’, Development in Practice, 15, 5, 631–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fals-Borda, O. and Rahman, A. (1991), Action and Knowledge, London: IT Publications.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fazil, Q., Wallace, L. M, Singh, G., Ali, Z. and Bywaters, P. (2004), ‘Empowerment and advocacy: reflections on action research with Bangladeshi and Pakistani families who have children with severe disabilities’, Health and Social Care in the Community, 12, 5, 389–97.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fudge, N., Wolfe, C. and McKevitt, C. (2007), ‘Involving older people in health research’, Age and Aging, 36, 1, 492–500.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gonsalves, F. (2005), Participatory Research and Development for Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, Canada: International Development Research Centre.Google Scholar
Goodson, L. et al. (2008), ‘Accommodate: report on the accredited community research training programme’, Report for the Housing Association Charitable Trust, London.Google Scholar
Goodson, L. and Phillimore, J. (2008), ‘Accredited research training for community consultants’, Evaluation report for Birmingham City Council.Google Scholar
Goodson, L., Phillimore, J., Black, J., Jones, P., Lutz, J., Tice, A. and Williams, J. (2005), ‘New migrant communities: education, training, employment and integration matters’, Sandwell: Learning and Skills Council.Google Scholar
Griffith, P. (1998), ‘Qat use in London: a study of qat use amongst a sample of Somalis living in London’, Home Office Drug Prevention Initiative, London.Google Scholar
Hall, D., Rae, C. and Jarvis, M. (2002), ‘Young parent peer research project’, a report for Connexions Leicestershire in association with Sure Start Plus, Leicester.Google Scholar
Hope, A. and Timmel, S. (1984), Training for Transformation, Zimbabwe: Mambo Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kemshall, H. and Littlechild, R. (eds.) (2000), User Involvement and Participation in Social Care: Research Informing Practice, London: Jessica Kingsley.Google Scholar
Kuebler, D. and Hausser, D. (1997), ‘The Swiss Hidden Population Study: practical and methodological aspects of data collection by privileged access interviewers’, Addiction, 92, 3, 325–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Laverack, G. (2001), ‘An identification and interpretation of the organisational aspects of community empowerment’, Community Development Journal, 36, 2, 134–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leamy, M. and Clough, R. (2006), How Older People Became Researchers: Training, Guidance and Practice in Action, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Google Scholar
Lyons, M., Smuts, C. and Stephens, A. (2001), ‘Participation, empowerment and sustainability: (how) do the links work?’, Urban Studies, 38, 8, 1233–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maynard, M. and Purvis, J. (1994), Researching Women's Lives from a Feminist Perspective, London: Taylor & Francis.Google Scholar
McCabe, A. and Ford, C. (2001), Redresssing the Balance: Crime and Mental Health, Manchester: Public Health Alliance.Google Scholar
Morrow, G. and Malin, N. (2004), ‘Parent's and professionals working together: turning the rhetoric into reality’, Early Years, 24, 2, 163–77.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nolin, C. (2006), Transnational Ruptures: Gender and Forced Migration, Hampshire: Ashgate.Google Scholar
Phillimore, J., Ergun, E., Goodson, L., Hennessy, D. and BNCN Community Researchers (2007), They Do Not Understand the Problem I Have: Refugee Well Being and Mental Health, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.Google Scholar
Phillimore, J. and Goodson, L. (eds.) (2004), Qualitative Research in Tourism: Ontology, Epistemologies and Methodologies, London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Phillimore, J., Goodson, L., Beebeejaun, Y. and Ferraria, E. (2004), ‘The access, learning and employment needs of newcomers from abroad and the capacity of exisiting provision to meet those needs’, Learning and Skills Council, Birmingham and Solihull.Google Scholar
Silverman, D. (2005), Doing Qualitative Research (2nd edition), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Stringer, E. (2007), Action Research, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Tolley, E. and Bentley, M. (1996), ‘Training issues for the use of participatory research methods in health’, in de Koning, K. and Martin, M. (eds.), Participatory Research in Health, London: Zed, pp. 50–61.Google Scholar