ATPS- tribal, fall 09--Weekend I
Saturday 1:00pm
Welcome to your 2 nd year!
Intros of faculty . research is like story telling, there is no one way to do it, but we all have good stories inside us- social science is also like learning a new language, you will need own the vocabulary and concepts for yourself= find a way to make it meaningful and relevant to you ---research is like writing= it is an iterative process that we just keep doing over and over---
Why this class is useful (ask them first why understanding how to do and analyze research is important to tribal governance) HANDOUT--- components of research project--- HANDOUT similarities in policy design and research design----
Each faculty state our expectations of the class and our computer use policy.
Pam facilitate student discussion about their expectations of us and course. Amy write on board.
Clearly discuss the differences between 2 nd year core, Capstone, and Thesis. Also, make it clear that they need to direct their Capstone or Thesis comments/ questions/ concerns to Alan and Linda.
Go over syllabus
Announce syllabus changes:
-start time for Saturdays and Sundays is bumped to 9:00am (be on time)
- Alitecia guest speaker on Saturday
- Craig Bill guest speaker on 23 rd
- lecture notes posted after each weekend on course website
Announcements?-- any news students want to share with each other?
SHORT BREAK
2:00pm
Knowledge is knowing what to do, wisdom is knowing what to do and when to do it, virtue is knowing what to do and when to do it and then doing it.
In both tribal governance and social science research the hardest part of our work is taking steps towards virtue . Acting on our knowledge at the right time can be tough.
However, we may be able to use analytical techniques to help us. This means that we develop useful thinking habits . These useful habits may involve systematic approaches to your own thought processes.
Ex. How and why do you make inquiries?
This year, by conducting your own research project, one of the major take aways for you will be recognizing the analytical techniques you use to think .
The ways in which we think effect the ways in which we act and react. By recognizing your thought processes, you are developing an analytical technique. --like a picture, our thoughts are “framed” or informed by our world view and then we see the picture by reasoning our way through it to find meaning. --- We frame our initial responses to readings or issues based upon the world view we've formed over time (our epistemology).
After that first reaction, we then reason through readings or issues based upon where we deem “t”ruth comes from (our paradigm). Our frames of reference and our lines of reasoning inform each other in a continuous feedback loop.
I used to be a person who reacted to my external environment and then questioned my reactions later. Then I became a public administrator and this habit wasn't working to well for me anymore.
Today my analytical techniques for any work or research project are: 1) why does this matter? 2) am I attached or detached to the outcomes? 3) what assumptions am I making about the project or the presumed problem? 4) what do I know for sure about the project or problem? 5) why does this matter now ?
These 5 steps are an analytical technique that help me identify the way I frame and reason through a problem or decision. In our workshop later this evening you will assess what your own framing and reasoning.
These steps also help me to demystify science. Being scientific does not necessarily mean that you are always in pursuit of “answers.” Sometimes reaching enlightened continuations of your research question in order to pursue further research and ask more questions is the epitome of a scientific act. If all research projects ended with discrete findings and absolute answers then science, in my opinion, would be a very dull and short activity.
Author discusses ‘Justice' Sept. 17: TODAY's Meredith Vieira talks to Harvard philosophy professor Michael Sandel about his new book, “Justice.”
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/32892712#32892712
The goals of any social science research project are usually going to be one of (or a combination of) the following: prediction, understanding, description, exploration, explanation. However, the goals of your research project are informed by the paradigm your research aligns with.
What these terms mean:
Epistemology : How you come to know- the lenses you use to acquire knowledge. How do you know to ride a bike? Example: relying on personal experience. (or science)
Theory : concept formulation and hypothesis testing. Speculation as opposed to facts.A proposed description, explanation or model. Example: theory of incrementalism in management.
Ideology : a generally accepted theory or idea. An organized collection of ideas. A comprehensive vision. Set of ideas proposed to all members of society. Example: passivism or peaceful resistance.
Paradigm : when an ideology becomes dominant in form and substance (institutionalized). Thought pattern within a discipline. Kuhn- “logically consistent portrait of the world.” Ex. Performance measurement in public administration or capitalism in economics.
These go in a circle….. each informs the other.
HANDOUT PARADIGM TABLE-------------
The paradigms (positivism, interpretive, critical, native) differ in where they locate the sources of “truth” (where we locate the “soul” of science). Here's some background about where these paradigms came from:
1) Age of Enlightenment– 17 th to 18 th centuries- ushered in Modernity and developed Positivism
The Enlightenment sought to establish a new nature of knowledge where subjective ideas such as religion did not rule the landscape. Instead, philosophers and scientists would rely on proof, physical observation and verifiable predictions to claim knowledge. They were looking for basic truths of the world ( UNIVERSAL TRUTHS ).
The central claim was that there was an objective truth of reality out there to be discovered that was separate from the observer , instead of the subjective views of reality expressed in religion and politics. This could be discovered through the scientific method of observation, hypothesis, experimentation and verification . Enlightenment thinkers believed in a rational, orderly and comprehensible universe which could then form a rational and orderly organization of knowledge . -- positivism--- which was formalized by Auguste Comte.
The order of the scientific method was seen as a way of keeping chaos out and ordered efficiency in……things were seen in absolutes, either you could prove knowledge scientifically or you could not. This was what is known as “empiricism” or dependence on evidence.
Western societies felt protected by “scientific experts” rather than ruled by traditions or a King. Keep in mind this was the time of Newton and regularizing inventions such as the telescope and microscope. Enlightenment set the stage for the modern era, industrialization, and scientific revolutions.
Critique : knowledge generated by science is (generally) accepted as “true”; this passes enormous power to the elites with the skills needed to generate this knowledge – positivism
2) Postmodern- interpretive, critical, and native paradigms --
This was a move to get away from the “experts” of science. Science was insufficient in answering the individual questions of global suffering and sacrifice (WWI, WWII, depression). Views science as inherently corrupt and not based in the realities of individual experience. These paradigms want to get at the things we can't see , such as emotion and prejudice and hate .
It sees knowledge as coming from individual realities. All that's real are the images we get through our points of view.
Critique : If there is no universal reality, then how can we ever have a women's movement? If there is no universal woman-ness.
*Note: you do not see the words methodology or method on this handout.*
The methodology is your "approach" to the research: what types of data do you want to yield? (quant, qual, mixed) We need to have this clear in our mind before designing our method: the "tool" we use to physically gather the data. (survey, interview, focus group, etc.) Just by deciding to do a survey it doesn't mean they are automatically going to get all quant data back. It depends on how they intentionally design the questions and response options within the tool itself. In other words, "a" tool does not equal "a" approach or data yield.
* methodologies and methods - it is crucial to remember that any methodologies (quant., qual, mixed mode) and any methods (surveys, interviews, focus groups) can be present in any paradigm. The tool and the approach do not make the paradigm . You can have highly quantitative methodologies in the critical paradigm. You can use surveys in the Native Science paradigm.
Methodologies : (general principles about the formation of knowledge) quantitative, qualitative, mixed mode.
Quantitative : (hear “quantity”) The numerical representation and manipulation of observations for the purpose of describing and explaining the phenomena that those observations reflect. Raw data must be converted into numerical equivalents before analysis can occur.
Qualitative : (hear “quality”) The non-numerical examination and interpretation of observations for the purpose of exploring underlying meanings and patterns of relationships. Data is collected from notes, observations, interviews, in-depth, and is not summarized by numbers or analyzed with statistics. Words, pictures, narratives are used as data.
Mixed Mode : Both- use of numbers & words to provide meaning to data.
Methods : how we start to operationalize the study- translate the world of ideas into the world of behaviors . Methods such as surveys or focus groups are tools and can be designed as either quantitative or qualitative or mixed mode.
Also note on the handout that there are only two great thinkers or authors listed on this table. Most of us don't like to be slotted into one paradigm or the other. That's why we keep inventing new ones.
Workshop : often times the paradigms in academia don't fit us. You can create your own! We will do mind mapping exercise where they show the connections on how they know something to be “true” or not. What is one thing you believe to be true? (place at center) How do you know it is true?
Saturday 9:00am
SEMINAR on Cajete- Pam facilitate.
Share project ideas--- facilitate initial group formation----
10:00am
Community Based Research/participatory research
-set up the Santiago-Rivera article
Participatory Action Research (A Design, Not a Specific Tool)
First used in 1948 by Kurt Lewin as a way to solve practical problems in social groups. Four steps: planning, executing, reconnaissance, and evaluating. This is applied research. Lewin was convinced that social science could strengthen democracy. Using induction (small to big- that lady with glasses was mean to me, all ladies with glasses are mean) based upon his experiences with Nazi persecution, he looked at how democracy can disappear under the influence of a powerful leader. He used action research to make sure it would not happen again. Action research focuses on increasing understanding about a social problem in order to achieve real change.
PAR= research, education, action. Participants bring about change themselves by being active in the research process.
Action research: researchers are privileged because they have the opportunity to facilitate client learning. Can be used for needs assessment or program evaluation. Design research project with the community and give results of research to the community.
LUNCH
1:00pm
Aleticia- guest speaker-- participatory research approaches, presentation #1, presentation #2
BREAK
2:30pm
De-brief presentation, discuss Native Voice (authority/ authenticity to speak for topic), insider/outsider in research
Pam= Insider/Outsider workshop
Etics and Emics
Sunday 9:00am
Problem I.D., Definition, Research Question Workshop HANDOUT
---work through one student's topic on the board to identify the problem, define the problem, and craft a research question
--- point of research is to respond to that guiding research question----think of it as a story---the research question guides your research, just as a message or lesson or main character guides a story
----refer to Babbie page 112-120
10:00am
Alumni Panel= Celine & Jan
11:00am
Pam discusses group dynamics and the group contract
LUNCH
1:00pm
Discuss logic models, explain that logic models came into existence for program evaluation, research is something that always needs to be evaluated as you move through it.
Logic model workshop: fill in a logic model based on their research topic.
2:00pm
Work on a draft of assignment #2
3:00pm
Go over assignment #3 (show resources available on course website for lit reviews)
-lit review (helps for background information, finding gaps in the literature that your research will fill, compare & contrast sources, each source should help you respond to your question.)
-participants (be realistic about your time, their time, distance, travel, technology, etc.)
-method (rough idea of what might be appropriate, don't actually create the instrument!)