Demystifying Research: Demystifying Research: You Don’t Have to Be an You Don’t Have to Be an Academic to Plan and Academic to Plan and Evaluate ProgramsEvaluate Programs
Midwest Farmworker Health ForumNovember 18, 2010Austin, TX
Alice Larson, Ph.D.Larson Assistance Services
Liberty Day Ruihley, MSHealth Outreach Partners
Challenges BrainstormChallenges Brainstorm
Types of ResearchTypes of ResearchAcademic
◦Technical, for publicationInformal/Informational
◦Internet search, ask someoneMid-ground
◦Structured research process
All begin by identifying what you want to know…
Defining the Research Defining the Research QuestionQuestionWhat is the question or issue?
◦Population◦Keep it simple
How are we going to get the answers?◦Organizing upfront
What’s the Research What’s the Research Question?Question?Scenario #1: The health center
intends to increase the identification of farmworkers either with or at risk for developing diabetes through new screening process.
What’s the Research What’s the Research Question?Question?Scenario #2: Employees of the
health center think that the number of farmworkers coming into the clinic has been declining over the past few years.
What General Kinds of What General Kinds of Information are You Looking Information are You Looking For?For?Quantitative –
numbers, countsQualitative –
opinions, what do you think or believe?
You can mix quantitative and qualitative methods.
What Methods Can You Use What Methods Can You Use to Gather Information?to Gather Information?Third Party – existing sources
◦Data bases◦Reports
First Party – you generate the data◦Surveys◦Focus groups◦Observations◦Pre-post tests
Use what you knowUse a variety of methods and
sources
Answering a Research Answering a Research QuestionQuestionClearly state what your research
question is going to beWhat techniques are you going to
use to answer it?What information would you try
to collect?What additional questions do you
have about how to go about collecting information?
How to Put it All TogetherHow to Put it All TogetherGo back to your research questions
◦Go back to your list of broad topics◦That’s how you organize to analyze
Two ways to analyze information◦Look at each method you used
separately◦Use list of topics looking at all methods
Look for patternsYou have an obligation to report
back to those who helped
ResourcesResourcesHandoutsHOP Outreach Reference Manual
◦ www.outreach-partners.orgMigrant Health Promotion Evaluation
Toolkit◦ www.migranthealth.org
Center for Sustainable Health Outreach Toolkit◦ http://www.usm.edu/csho/index.html
Community Health Worker Evaluation Toolkit◦ http://www.publichealth.arizona.edu/
chwtoolkit/toolkit.htm
Wrapping it upWrapping it upThank you!If you want more information
please contact Liberty at [email protected] or Alice at [email protected]