The Four Phases of our Mixed Method Research

Phase 1. What data is 'out there' already? 

With the help of student research assistants, we explored existing literature (research studies, community reports, news paper articles, etc.) to better understand the question of un/under employment of racialized individuals' (both newcomers and Canadian citizens) in Edmonton & Alberta. We discovered that there was little information available about the policies in place about the experiences of racialization through employment. 

As such, we also conducted interviews with key knowledge holders, in this space, with settlement and integration service providers who could shed light on the systemic issues facing racialized newcomers.  

Timeline: July 1, 2020 - July 31, 2022

Phase 2. What does the community think? 

With the help and support of community connectors (individuals who helped connect us with other community members), we held in-depth community-based focus groups to better understand individuals' racialized experiences of employment, their access to services and everyday experiences of exclusion in local spaces from the perspective of racialized and non-racialized (immigrants and Canadian citizen) individuals living in Edmonton.

COVID-19 affected our timeline, but we spoke with 35 individuals from different perspectives.

Timeline: January 2022 - September 2022

Phase 3. How do our local findings compare to broader Albertan experiences of employment?

Using the data and our preliminary analysis from stages 1 & 2, and with the help of Qualtrics and the network of our community partners, we crafted an online survey that was distributed to 405 individuals. Questions ranged from experiences in the workplace, asking about the role of COVID-19 in hiring and promotion practices, and whether the BLM racial & social justice movement (particularly during 2020) had any impact on their everyday work lives. This survey collected data from racialized and non-racialized Albertans.

Timeline: Jan 2023 - April 2023

Phase 4. What do YOU think about all of this? How does this matter to YOU?

While we created a series of community reports and shared our findings with our Community Partner (The City of Edmonton's Community Social Workers), we wanted to operationalize our findings and get further input on what local community members, service providers, and government reps thought about these findings in relation to their own work and - in the context of 2024 (and beyond). 

To do this, we hosted four design sprints that not only helped to disseminate our research findings to more stakeholders (our community partner, members of the community) but also brainstormed new ideas in response to some of the hardest questions unearthed by this project. 

Timeline: Summer 2024