RESEARCH IN THE SERVICE OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Heidi Unruh

CCDA 2008

"May your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we may be … filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:9-11)

What is research?

• Systematic gathering of information to help answer a question, address a problem or move toward a goal

• Stages of research: posing the question, gathering data, organizing data, analyzing data, disseminating data, applying / acting on data

• Types of research: quantitative / qualitative; academic / action

Dynamics of research

• Intellectual: expand our base of knowledge about God's world and our role in it

• Practical: inform effective / corrective action (and generate support for action)

• Ethical: collect and use information in a valid way – address potential for abuse

• Relational: empower the community by engaging stakeholders as co-learners

• Spiritual: connect what's happening "on earth" with God's will "in heaven"

How does theology inform research?

• Investigative framework: The Biblical story and our story

• Objective: Informed, contextually appropriate participation in God’s mission

• Measurement: Seeing the world and our role in it through God’s eyes

• Standard: “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” – prophetic imagination

• Stakeholders: Community of God’s children – loved, redeemed and called by God

How does research inform ministry?

• Context – "exegete community" , discern social / cultural / historical / spiritual dynamics

• Problem – define what needs to be done

• Resources – discover assets in congregation and community

• Priorities – narrow the focus of ministry efforts

• Methodology – best way to use resources to meet missional goals in your context

• Impact – are we solving the problem or meeting our goals?

• Program – process of evaluation and growth (assess / learn / plan / respond)

• Vision – what are our goals? How do we define success?

• Relationships - who will work with us toward shared vision?

Some key action research questions:

• "What's really going on here?"

• How do we discover and strengthen what is vital, true and good in our culture, community and organization?

• What are the main concerns, assets and dreams in our community?

• How does the unseen affect what is seen: what systems, power structures, cultural influences, historical trends and spiritual forces influence the current situation?

• "Who's involved?"

• Who are the stakeholders and what are their perceptions of the situation?

• How can stakeholders be involved collaboratively in the solution?

• Who else has worked or is working on a similar or connected concern?

• "What do we do about it?"

• What are priority ministry goals for our organization, in relation to other stakeholders and partners?

• What are best practices (programs, policies, organizing strategies, etc.) to achieve a particular ministry goal, given our context?

• How do we share the gospel and promote wholeness in contextually appropriate ways?

• "How are we doing?"

• Is our ministry having an impact? How do we make it better?

• How do we connect the biblical model with our observations of the world?

• Are we being faithful to God's mission for the church in general, and our organization in particular?

Some methods for gathering information:

• Ask people (e.g., interviews, focus groups)

• Gather documents (e.g., newspaper articles, reports)

• Make observations (e.g., windshield survey

• Count things (e.g., volunteer hours, number of homes repaired)

• Collect measurements (e.g., grades, recidivism)

• Use instruments (e.g., surveys, data collection forms)

• Employ 3^rd party (e.g., consultant, university professors / students)

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Connect with existing research on the community/city or focus of ministry:

• Universities, colleges, seminaries

• Government offices (e.g. city / county planning department, justice department, HUD)

• Civic groups (chamber of commerce, community center, United Way)

• Census data (quickfacts.census.gov)

• Foundations (e.g., Annie E. Casey Foundation Knowledge Center, local community foundations)

• Denominational / ecumenical research offices and commissions

• Research organizations / policy institutes (e.g., Brookings Institution, brookings.edu; Urban Institute, urban.org; Public/Private Ventures, ppv.org; Harvard Family Research Project; Regional Education Laboratories; Economic Roundtable)

• Research consultants / professional evaluators (e.g. Applied Evaluation Systems, aes-egc.org)

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Some methods for analyzing information:

• Clustering / hexagoning

• Flowcharts

• Spreadsheets

• Correlations

• Statistical analysis

• Theme analysis

Some methods for sharing information:

• Tables & charts

• Maps

• Reports

• Stories (case studies)

• Multi-media (e.g., video)

• Roundtable

• Seminars / workshops

Some research models:

• Logic model (see below)

• Indicators (see below)

• Outcome evaluation – helpful websites: successmeasures.orgs; urban.org/center/cnp/projects/outcomeindicators.cfm

• Congregational assessment – Studying Congregations (Nancy Ammerman), "Ministry Inventory Guide" (fastennetwork.org)

• Community assessment – "Community Study Guide" (fastennetwork.org)

• Appreciative inquiry - "A way of being and seeing" (iisd.org/ai)

• Participatory learning – involving people in learning about their needs, opportunities and action (ctb.ku.edu, iied.org/NR/agbioliv/pla_notes/whatispla.html)

• Stakeholder analysis

Logic model:

• Visual representation of how investments link to results

(S + P)  I (+ E)  O  R

Situation (needs, strengths, symptoms, causes, stakeholders) + Priorities (mission, values)  Inputs (resources – what we invest) (+ External factors – environmental influences)  Outputs (activities – what we do; participation – who we reach)  Outcomes (Results/impact in short-, medium-, long-term)

• Example: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/pdande/evaluation/evallogicmodel.html

Indicators:

• "Something that helps you understand where you are, which way you are going and how far you are from where you want to be" (sustainablemeasures.com)

• Help us frame a vision for ministry: what would our community look like if the kingdom of God were realized here as it is in heaven?

• World Vision indicators: "Transformational development seeks to restore and enable wholeness of life with dignity, justice, peace, and hope." (transformational-development.org)

• One model - compass of indicators (optimalniche.com, © AtKisson.com):

N = Nature

W = individual E = Economy

Well-being

S = Society

Outer circle = Built environment Center = Spiritual condition

• Example (secular): communitiescount.org; see other examples on sustainablemeasures.com.