class 7: assessing social conditions & communities uta ssw, socw 5306 generalist macro practice...
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Class 7:Class 7: Assessing Social Assessing Social Conditions & CommunitiesConditions & Communities
UTA SSW, SOCW 5306Generalist Macro PracticeUTA school of social work
Dr. Dick Schoech
Copyright 2005 (permission required before use)
Suggest printing slides for class using: Print | Handouts | 3 slides per page | grayscale options
Summary of Classes Summary of Classes 1- 71- 7
Generalist macro practice history, change process, roles, levels of intervention
Theories, values, perspectives The community as client Social conditions as problems/opportunities Assessing social
conditions/communities Intervening in social conditions Administrative practices
Learning Objectives of Learning Objectives of ClassClass
Function of needs and capacities Learn types of needs & capacities Learn data sources Learn collection methods
advantages/disadvantages of each Learn about data analysis in CAP
environment Learn the logic of presenting data Learn other ways of presenting data §
Basic Definitions & Basic Definitions & FunctionsFunctions
Needs Help focus solution Try to base needs in outcome is strongest Summarizes what need & who has need One need per statement Do not confuse need with solution, e.g., need is for more
therapy
Capacities Helps design a solution Cover individuals experience/knowledge/skills, associations,
and organizations
Barriers Identify roadblocks during solutions
Steps in an Assessment Steps in an Assessment (review)(review)
1. Identify the condition of concern2. Developing a vision and principles to guide action3. Identify and mobilize stakeholders into guiding coalition4. Explore condition, why problem, history, causes, politics5. Develop baseline measure to measure future impact 6. Best practices, intervention models, guidelines 7. Profile community (client)8. Document existing solutions/service system9. Develop list of capacities/resources to build on10. Develop list of needs (gaps in services, felt need, etc.)11. Identify barriers to solutions12. Make report understandable/politically acceptable §
Goals of an Goals of an assessmentassessment
Unite, educate, coordinate, mobilize people/institutions
Understand a condition/problem Collect information on a condition/problem Provide information to design a solution,
e.g., capacities, model programs, research Provide baseline data to measure progress Provide data to see if vision impacted
Relevant DefinitionsRelevant Definitions Incidence = number during a time period
Example: 5000 people were homeless in 1999
Prevalence = number at any one time Example: on 1 Dec 99, 500 were homeless
Valid = measures concept under study, nothing else
Reliable = consistent over time Baseline data = starting point from
which to measure results§
Logic of Needs/CapacitiesLogic of Needs/Capacities
Clients Living in condition Have needs That are caused by xxx And not solved due to xxx And related to other problems Others addressed these needs by xxx with xxx
results So given strengths xxx The most promising approach is xxx
Need TypesNeed Types Normative = compared to standards
(poverty rate)
Perceived = What people say, e.g., expert opinion
Expressed = squeaky wheel, e.g., waiting lists, unemployment rate, public forums, surveys
Relative = compared to similar situations, concern is equity, ( infant mortality rate)
Types of Capacities Types of Capacities Local Institutions: Businesses, Schools, Parks, Libraries,
Colleges, Libraries, Churches, Social Services Citizens Groups and Associations: Junior League, Lions
Clubs, JC’s, League of Women Voters, AAUW Neighborhood Watch clubs
Individual Contributions: Money, spending patterns, time, music, art, computer work, mailings, relationships with people with resources, power, fame, or influence, etc.
Kretzmann/McKnight suggest citizen groups and associations, rather than local institutions, control community change. Institutions tend to benefit themselves at the expense of the community. Citizen groups and associations rarely do.
Sources of DataSources of Data
Primary (you collect for current purpose) Experts Key informants Citizens/consumers
Secondary (others collected for other purposes) Census bureau Research studies Agency reports §
Methods of Primary Data Methods of Primary Data CollectionCollection
Surveys Public forums Interviews Document analysis Observation Group process (focus groups) §
Surveys Surveys (household, consumer, (household, consumer, etc)etc)
Targeted High validity/reliability Many analysis tools (stats) Cost effective (sampling) Online options are possible
Experience required Time consuming Requires a pretest Return or missing rate Sample size vs.
accuracy §
advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages
Public ForumsPublic Forums
Easy to set up Gives all the
opportunity to participate
High validity CYA
Hard to control Can be dominated by
a few Hard to summarize
results May not be reliable
(hard to replicate) §
advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages
InterviewsInterviews
Easy to conduct Can discover political
realities Delphi technique Can get ‘off the record’
information High validity/reliability Can explore answers Can get capacities via
stories & histories
Hidden agendas Hard to summarize Can be biased by who is
interviewed §
advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages
Document AnalysisDocument Analysis
Readily available information
Inexpensive High reliability Analysis tools exist Can get at capacities
via histories
Hard to analyze Hard to summarize Moderate validity
because you can not always find documents on topic §
advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages
ObservationObservation
Inexpensive High validity Gives information on
the context
Hard to analyze Hard to summarize May be biased due to
values of the designer/ observer
Moderate/low reliable (hard to replicate) §
advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages
Group Process (Focus Group Process (Focus Groups)Groups)
Detailed analysis Quick Can use techniques
as brainstorming & Nominal group
Online techniques are available, e.g., Listservs, chat rooms
Requires experience Requires planning Hard to get diversity Difficult to
summarize §
advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages
Data Analysis in CAP Data Analysis in CAP EnvironmentEnvironment
When using statistics for the general public, remember the following principles:
Minimum data collection, maximum analysis
KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) Distinguish between data and
interpretation of data Use totals and average, percents, etc.
§
Data Presentation Data Presentation TechniquesTechniques
Know your audience (research vs. program grant) Executive summaries (assume multiple readers) One picture worth 1000 words Use indicators Use graphics (Excel charting feature is great) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) help Assume a 6th grade reading level for public Use tables and figures Put data in appendices unless needed to understand
text§
Politics of Data CollectionPolitics of Data Collection
Your sanction helps in collecting data Collection imposes on those providing data Use incentives/payoffs for those providing
data Primary data is a heavy burden on
collectors Secondary data usually easy to obtain The Internet is the first place to search Beware of biases and personal agendas §
ConclusionConclusion Data is best for identifying need Stories, histories, etc. best for identifying
capacities People know needs but need help with solutions Data presentation should be logical Minimum data collection, maximum use Assessment should present a picture/tell a story Credibility is hard to regain--get 2nd opinion to
avoid misinterpretation §