Unit Overview

Students in a previous Citizen Social Science qualitative research methods training conducted interviews with community members and identified three central elements of a self-sustaining community. We propose exploring these topics further in the quantitative class. 

In the initial class session, we'll explore your interest in each area and brainstorm specific information you'd like to know from residents in your community. We'll also ask you to complete the CITI research ethics certification if you have not already done so. 

Key Terms

Research Ethics: guidelines on how research should be conducted that focus on protecting participants from harm.

Subject: any person included within a research study (i.e., an interviewee).

Theme: a category summarizing a prevalent topic in the data. 

Previous Research Highlights

The qualitative methods cohort identified three components of community self-sustainability as in need of further exploration:

1. Intergenerational relationships and the transfer of knowledge.

2. Economic opportunities and cultivating entrepreneurial talent.

3. Educational skills and workforce preparedness.

We'll begin from these themes to develop the focus for our class. 

Brainstorming Questions

Use the link below to navigate to [digital brainstorming platform of choice - create space to post on each theme]. Post questions or statements about the information you would want to know about each theme. Keep in mind that the population of interest will be residents in your community. [Include instructions for creating posts on the brainstorming platform.]

[Insert button with link to digital brainstorming platform here]

New to Social Science Research?

If this is your first time being part of a research project, or if you'd like a refresher, we encourage you to have a look at the "Research Design" page from the Qualitative Citizen Social Science Training. The slide deck "Examples of Social Science Research Methods" will provide an overview of the difference between qualitative and quantitative research, along with some examples of both. The slide deck "Starting a Qualitative Project: Research Questions", while focused on qualitative research, will provide some insights on how to create clear and researchable research questions to guide your research. 

Let's Get Ethical

If you're joining the Citizen Social Science training for the first time, you'll need to review standards for ethical research conduct. Use the link below to complete the research ethics unit.