Intro to Research Methods

CORE ACTIVITY: Research Round Robin (45 minutes)

Materials: Prepare 3-4 stations ahead of time (whatever best suits your group), each representing a different research method.

Station 1: Surveys (Use Survey handout)

Station 2: Photovoice (Use Photovoice handout - for this station you can provide polaroid cameras for students to take their own photos or have examples of photos already laid out)

Station 3: Interviews (Use Interviews handout)

Station 4: Focus groups (Use Focus groups handout)

Station 5: Mapping (Use Mapping handout - for this station you should have a map of your school, community, or neighborhood available for students to use as well as post-its)

You will also need copies of the Pros and Cons worksheet.

• Split up into groups (one for each station). This activity is a round robin. At each station, groups will experience a different research method and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this method for action research.
• Each group will be at each station for no more than 5 minutes. Make sure the groups understand that this is to get an idea of what this method is like — it is NOT a training in how to use this method. (20 minutes)
• Reflect on research stations (5 minutes)
  • After all groups have gone to all stations, talk about the different methods. Ask the participants for general feedback:
  • Which method did you like the best? The least?
  • What kind of information do you get from the different methods?
  • What is the value of each method?
  • What resources would we need for each method?
  • How much time would we need to use each method?
  • Summarize: All of these methods have their pros and cons. Most YPAR projects use at least 2 methods at some point in order to get the information they need to make a change.
• Pros and Cons (20 minutes)
  • Split up into new groups. Each group is going to stand at one of the stations. Each station has a Pros and Cons worksheet.
  • At their first station, each group will complete: What type of information is this good for? Provide examples. After 3-5 minutes, all groups will rotate to the next station.
  • At Station Two, groups fill out as many Pros as they can.
  • At Station Three, groups fill out as many Cons as they can.
  • Have groups rotate an additional 1-2 times, adding first to the list of Pros, then to the list of Cons.
  • For the last rotation, groups should read what is written and report out to the larger group.