On Wednesday we did a methods module on Data and Research Findings in Participatory Action Research, which you will use to develop your Public Engagement products and Policy Recommendations.  Each group shared their most urgent/valuable pieces of data (raw information- quotes, descriptive statistics, field notes, interview transcripts, photos, archival info- both  primary (produced by you) and secondary (produced by others).   Groups then used these pieces of data to suggest initial research findings (stories, arguments, explanations that you produce by weaving your data together; findings are based on key assumptions and are developed through data analysis using concepts and theories that help to illuminate your argument.  Each group should have data that grounds/can be cited in the historical overview  of the problem, and to support your suggestions around what can/should be done in response.  The purpose of yesterday’s exercise was to take stock of what you are finding and able to argue thus far, and of where there are gaps in your argument/evidence base.  Please use what you learned in this exercise to further specify the parameters of your projects and data collection methods/instruments.  Here are some guiding questions to help you with this:

How?

…can you document or better understand (the problem/potential responses)? Do you need “hard” numbers (quantitative data) and/or stories of personal experience (qualitative data) or both?

…are you going to give legs to your research?  What strategies could you employ to make the research and report as impactful as possible?

Who?

…are the stakeholders in the issue? Who has interest? Who is affected?

…needs to have their voice be heard?

…are you trying to influence? Who has power over the issue?

…is your target audience (community members, elected officials, media)?

…will collect your data?

Where?

…can you find the people you need to talk to get your data?

…can you find existing information that is relevant to your research?

…can you go for support and assistance (non-profits, universities, government agencies)?

If you take the time to answer these questions as a group, you should have a pretty clear sense of what else will be needed to complete your data collection!