Research Methods for
Community Researchers
so excited you are here!!
This site is your guide to the community researcher training! We are beyond excited you have joined our team and hope this is only the beginning of your journeys as researchers! Watch this short video about the training and what to expect.
Why?
The purpose of this training is to prepare you to conduct research for the project with Urban Institute about Credible Messenger programming. However, we want to give you the tools to conduct research and evaluation beyond this project!
Learning Objectives
By the end of this project, you will be able to:
1) Explain how research helps us understand issues related to the criminal legal-system
2) Describe common research methods (i.e., quantitative and qualitative)
3) Develop a focus group script
4) Assist in creating a life event calendar (LEC) survey
5) Conduct focus groups and LEC surveys with youth/young adults in your community
6) Analyze and share research findings
What we will do:
This website houses interactive modules for each topic​. You can access this website and content on any device with internet access: a laptop. Smartphone, or tablet.
Each module contains items and articles to read, videos to watch, and activities to complete, such as short Quizzes. Each module should take you about 20-30 minutes to complete. We let you know what content/activities are optional and you can skip if you do not have the time/capacity.
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You can complete modules and learn at your own pace, but have a general guide for how many modules to complete each month. We will review some of the module content together during our monthly meetings.
We have the option to share our reactions and thoughts in a communal Discord discussion​. More information about Discord is provided below. You can reflect on the content privately in your own notes and/or on Discord!
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You can ask questions on Discord or to your buddy anytime! ​
Getting Started
Throughout this training, you will be asked to 1) watch videos, 2) read articles, and 3) reflect on what you learned through personal reflections or discussions with other community researchers on Discord or Zoom. The training is self-paced, but we hope you will complete the modules we ask by our site monthly meetings (1-3 modules at a time). Near the end of the training, we will work on more hands-on activities such as developing research instruments and collecting data.
Getting to Know the Teams!
We have two projects funded by the National Institute of Justice to evaluate Credible Messenger programming!
The first CM1 project is three years long and focuses on Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA and Birmingham, AL.
The second CM2 project is five years long and focuses on Phoenix, AZ, King County, WA, Bay Area (CA), and Jackson, MS. Below we introduce the team for each project. You will be training around the same time and wanted to give the opportunity for you all to connect!
CM1: How Do “Credible Messenger” Mentors Promote Youth Development? A Retrospective, Longitudinal Study in Atlanta, Birmingham, and Houston
Lauren Farrell
Project Manager
Policy Associate, Deputy Director, Community Engagement Resource Center
CM2: Understanding the Implementation and Impact of Credible Messenger Mentoring on Youth Across Settings (Phoenix, Seattle, Bay Area (CA), and Jackson, MS)
Connecting on Discord
Discord is a chat app, similar to programs such as Skype or Slack. It’s geared toward video game players, but is used in many different settings.
Learning online can feel very isolated, both from the instructor and your classmates. When I first taught online, I asked my students what they recommended to facilitate connections online. Based on their feedback, I decided to try Discord! So far, students have really enjoyed it and said they feel closer to me as well as each other.
However, this is OPTIONAL!! If you're thinking, "I can't learn another new technology," totally fair and you do not need to get on Discord.
Getting on Discord:
Create an Account
If you already have a Discord account, you are welcome to use your existing account. If not, you'll need to create an account. You'll need to "register" for an account. You can choose any username you like, but be mindful your classmates will see it too. You can also use any email you like to sign up. For a step-by-step guide, check out this video.
You can use Discord on your Browser or the mobile/desktop app.
I highly recommend reading through this guide if you've never used Discord.
2. Connect to our Discord Server
We will share the link to the server during our monthly meeting and via email!
This is the link you'll use to join a server. You can right click the link the copy and paste it into Discord "Join a Server" or just click the link and it will take you to the server.
To join a server from Discord, click the green plus sign "Add a server" then enter in the link info from Blackboard.
3. Post!
You can sign on anytime and post in the channels.
The Text Channels are optional and available to help you. We have specific text channels for each module discussion.
We also have Voice Channels, which are completely optional. I like having the voice channels in case you'd like to meet with each other or with me!
The message box is where you will type and submit your post. You can add text, files, links, emojis, and GIFs in the message box at the bottom.
Upload a file
Add an emoji
Add a GIF
You can also direct message anyone privately! Click the home (Discord Icon) button and then Direct Messages.
Code of Conduct
Treat everyone with respect and kindness. Engage with patience and empathy. Remember our community agreements apply to Discord too!
I strongly encourage you to interact with each other! You can react and comment on one anothers' posts! This is not required, but it helps build our community if you do interact.
TRAINING MODULES
Training Module Discussion Schedule for CM1
This schedule is tentative and may change!
September Community Meetings: Modules 1 - 3 What is research, research questions, and types of research
October Cross-Site Meeting: Modules 4 - 5 CEM methods/PAR
November Community Meetings: Modules 6 - 7 Our identities, trauma, and self-care
December Cross-Site Meeting: Modules 8 - 10 Root Cause Analysis, justice and action frameworks
January Cross-Site Meetings 2x per month: Modules 11 -12 Program evaluation, project management, action frameworks continued
February Cross-Site Meeting 2x per month: Modules 13 -14 Ethics, confidentiality, and consent, Focus Groups
March Cross-Site Meeting 2x per month: Module 15 Focus Group Review
April Cross-Site Meeting 2x per month: Modules 16 - 17 LECs
Training Module Discussion Schedule for CM2
This schedule is tentative and may change!
January Individual Community Meetings: Leadership Kickoff Meetings
February Individual Community Meetings: Community Kickoff Meeting
March Cross-Community Meeting: Full Project Kickoff Meeting with Community presentations
April Cross-Community Meetings: Modules 1 - 3 What is research, research questions, and types of research
May Cross-Community Meeting: Modules 4 - 5 CEM methods/PAR
June Cross-Community Meeting: Modules 6 - 7 Our identities, trauma, and self-care
July Cross-Community Meeting: Modules 8 - 10 Root Cause Analysis, justice and action frameworks
August Cross-Community Meetings 2x per month: Modules 11 -12 Program evaluation, project management, action frameworks continued
September Cross-Community Meetings 2x per month: Modules 13 -15 Ethics, confidentiality, and consent, Focus Groups
October Cross-Community Meetings 2x per month: Focus Group Review
November Cross-Community Meetings 2x per month: Modules 16 - 17 LECs