community research

eoineen

Following moves in various fora (which I won't mention just yet) is there anyone interested in beginning a discussion on community research / evaluation and the problems that are encountered when carrying out social research in the community, i.e. outside a university environment?

E

roxy

I smell a thesis.

eoineen

Thanks for the reply but it was not exactly what I was looking for. I dk where you were posting this from but this is not the smell of a thesis. As you might like to know I am a consultant community social researcher working with charities and the likes and would like to know if anyone has experiences they'd like to share here in this forum? That's all...nothing conspiratorial about that though eh?

Eoineen

sunbeam

Hi eoineen,

I'm not involved in social research at present, but was thinking of entering the area as a career change, maybe starting out by doing the masters in TCD or UL. What is the job situation like at the moment?

roxy

I really didn't meant cause offence Eoineen, so i apologise if I did.

Would experience of community media (well radio) be of any interest/help? From the point of view of involving the response that is received from a community to a local, non-commercial radio station? I dunno, just a thought?

eoineen

None taken roxy, just a little unused to the informality of these boards. As you can see I am new to this. Community radio / media is a good place to be despite the recent setbacks although I was thinking more along the lines of dilemmas faced when getting access to the field etc. but I am sure you might have some ideas about dilemmas and problems when interviewing people from a different cultural / socio-economic background?

Sunbeam: right now, it is tricky as many orgs are cutting back on research and training / education budgets and December is quiet anyway but I'd encourage you if you have some good ideas. A master's is a good idea but if you want to work in a community context, for your thesis, do something which pushes out the boundaries of methodology, not theory. That's my only advice.

DeVore

Um, I'm not following what you want (or how we got on to Radio)...


Whats sort of research?
What sort of community?

I'll bite. What you looking for?

DeV.

amp

/me parses thread for Humanities content

hmmm "social research"

hmmm Dev doesn't object....




SAFE!!!

DeVore

Well I'm curious what it means... cant tell if its categorised correctly until I know now can I

Still it would broadly fit into the general sphere of "human condition"

DeV.

roxy

I'd be only too glad to give my tuppence-worth as regards community radio but, like DeVore, I'm not crystal clear on what the end product is or even what's being sought along the way.

Roxy