Transcript Research Strategies for Studying Diverse Populations Donna

Research Strategies for
Studying Diverse Populations
Donna M. Mertens
Gallaudet University
American Psychological Association's Education
Leadership Conference
Washington DC Sept 17 2005
Theme: Dialogues on Diversity: Epistemological,
Individual and Organizational
Major Points:
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Why good research is important
Research design
Paradigms of research
Transformative Paradigm
• Ontology
• Epistemology
• Methodology: sampling & design
Why we need good research
• Comments from my students
Research & Evaluation Design
STEPS IN THE RESEARCH &
Evaluation PROCESS
• Step 1: Identify own worldview and situate your work
as research or evaluation
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• Step 2: Problem sensing
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• Step 3: Literature review; research questions
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• Step 4: Identify design (quantitative/qualitative/mixed)
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• Step 5: Identify and select sources of data
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• Step 6: Identify and select data collection methods and
instruments
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• Step 7: Data analysis, reporting, and utilization
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• Step 8: Identify future directions
Paradigms:Your world view
Your assumptions about
• reality (ontology)
• relation between knower and would-beknown (epistemology)
• the appropriate approach to systematic
inquiry (methodology)
Transformative Paradigm
• Ontology:
Multiple realities: social, political, cultural,
economic, race/ethnic, gender, religion and
disability values
• Epistemology:
Interactive link; knowledge is
socially/historically located
• Methodology:
Qualitative/dialogic; Quantitative; Mixed
methods; Context; Oppression
Ontological Question:
• How do we know if a girl/boy is really
good?
• What is the definition of a good girl or
boy? Really?
• How would I know it if I saw it?
Characteristics of the Transformative
Paradigm
• Central importance: lives and experiences of
marginalized groups (e.g., women,
minorities, people with disabilities, those
who are poor)
• Analyzes asymmetric power relationships
• Links results of social inquiry to action
• Use transformative theory to develop the
program theory and the research approach
Epistemologically: Why the
source of our knowledge
matters
• Comments from my students about why
we need good research and evaluation
• Chilisaba (forthcoming) Decolonizing
Ethics in Social Research…assumptions of
sameness and ignoring power issues
• Freebody & Power (2001) interviewing
deaf adults…portrayal as a series of
curiousities
Methodologically
• Where does the transformative
paradigm take us?
• What makes it different from other
approaches to research like
participatory research, critical race
theory, disability rights, human rights,
and feminist research?
Social Justice & Dimensions of
Diversity
• Myth of homogeneity (Mertens, 2005)
• Sampling with dimensions of diversity in
mind: Who needs to be included? How can
people be included in the most appropriate
way?
• Gertrude Stein: Rose is a rose is a rose…
• But, is an African an African an African?
(Chilisa, 2004)
• Is a person with a disability a person with
a disability a person with a disability?
(Mertens & McLaughlin, 2004)
Dimensions of Diversity
• US Based:
• Race/ethnicity
• Asian American/Pacific Islander
• African Americans
• Hispanics
• American Indians
• Disability
• Gender
• What are the important dimensions in your area of
study?
Re-framing sampling with a
transformative eye
• Myth of homogeneity
• Understanding the dimensions of
importance
• Theoretically important
characteristics (e.g., trust)
• Impact of labels (at risk vs.
resilience)
• Barriers? Cultural appropriateness?
Diversity and Sampling Strategies
Example: Deaf/HH court access
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Communications modes:
American Sign Language; highly educated
ASL; limited education
Gesture/pantomime/limited signing/low literacy
Deaf/blind
Hard of hearing people with assistive listening devices
Oral deaf adults
Mexican sign language
Other dimensions of diversity: gender, race/ethnicity;
status with court
Ethical Issues and Sampling
• Who to include?
• How to include?
• Avoid corruption:
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Balance
Fairness
Neutral?
Open
Conscientiously taking account of multiple
perspectives, interests, and realities
• Being explicit about the perspectives, values, and
priorities that shape the research and the
interventions
Reframing Data Collection with
a Transformative Eye
• Mixed methods
• Benefits to/involvement with the
community
• Appropriateness of methods
• Build trust
• Data collection modified; cultural
sensitivity
• Tie data collection to social action
How easy is it?
• “You cannot be afraid if you want to
accomplish anything. You got to have the
willin', the spirit and, above all, you got
to have the get-up.” (NPR, Hidden
Kitchens, March 4, 2005);
• (Description of Georgia Gillmore who
was fired after speaking against the
white bus driver who kicked her off his
bus in 1956 in AL; she opened her own
“kitchen”, sold food to raise funds for the
Civil Rights Movement, & died 25 years
later - still cooking)