Class 7:Class 7: Assessing Social Assessing Social Conditions & CommunitiesConditions & Communities

UTA SSW, SOCW 5306Generalist Macro PracticeUTA school of social work

Dr. Dick Schoech

Copyright 2005 (permission required before use)

Suggest printing slides for class using: Print | Handouts | 3 slides per page | grayscale options

Summary of Classes Summary of Classes 1- 71- 7

Generalist macro practice history, change process, roles, levels of intervention

Theories, values, perspectives The community as client Social conditions as problems/opportunities Assessing social

conditions/communities Intervening in social conditions Administrative practices

Learning Objectives of Learning Objectives of ClassClass

Function of needs and capacities Learn types of needs & capacities Learn data sources Learn collection methods

advantages/disadvantages of each Learn about data analysis in CAP

environment Learn the logic of presenting data Learn other ways of presenting data §

Basic Definitions & Basic Definitions & FunctionsFunctions

Needs Help focus solution Try to base needs in outcome is strongest Summarizes what need & who has need One need per statement Do not confuse need with solution, e.g., need is for more

therapy

Capacities Helps design a solution Cover individuals experience/knowledge/skills, associations,

and organizations

Barriers Identify roadblocks during solutions

Steps in an Assessment Steps in an Assessment (review)(review)

1. Identify the condition of concern2. Developing a vision and principles to guide action3. Identify and mobilize stakeholders into guiding coalition4. Explore condition, why problem, history, causes, politics5. Develop baseline measure to measure future impact 6. Best practices, intervention models, guidelines 7. Profile community (client)8. Document existing solutions/service system9. Develop list of capacities/resources to build on10. Develop list of needs (gaps in services, felt need, etc.)11. Identify barriers to solutions12. Make report understandable/politically acceptable §

Goals of an Goals of an assessmentassessment

Unite, educate, coordinate, mobilize people/institutions

Understand a condition/problem Collect information on a condition/problem Provide information to design a solution,

e.g., capacities, model programs, research Provide baseline data to measure progress Provide data to see if vision impacted

Relevant DefinitionsRelevant Definitions Incidence = number during a time period

Example: 5000 people were homeless in 1999

Prevalence = number at any one time Example: on 1 Dec 99, 500 were homeless

Valid = measures concept under study, nothing else

Reliable = consistent over time Baseline data = starting point from

which to measure results§

Logic of Needs/CapacitiesLogic of Needs/Capacities

Clients Living in condition Have needs That are caused by xxx And not solved due to xxx And related to other problems Others addressed these needs by xxx with xxx

results So given strengths xxx The most promising approach is xxx

Need TypesNeed Types Normative = compared to standards

(poverty rate)

Perceived = What people say, e.g., expert opinion

Expressed = squeaky wheel, e.g., waiting lists, unemployment rate, public forums, surveys

Relative = compared to similar situations, concern is equity, ( infant mortality rate)

Types of Capacities Types of Capacities Local Institutions: Businesses, Schools, Parks, Libraries,

Colleges, Libraries, Churches, Social Services Citizens Groups and Associations: Junior League, Lions

Clubs, JC’s, League of Women Voters, AAUW Neighborhood Watch clubs

Individual Contributions: Money, spending patterns, time, music, art, computer work, mailings, relationships with people with resources, power, fame, or influence, etc.

Kretzmann/McKnight suggest citizen groups and associations, rather than local institutions, control community change. Institutions tend to benefit themselves at the expense of the community. Citizen groups and associations rarely do.

Sources of DataSources of Data

Primary (you collect for current purpose) Experts Key informants Citizens/consumers

Secondary (others collected for other purposes) Census bureau Research studies Agency reports §

Methods of Primary Data Methods of Primary Data CollectionCollection

Surveys Public forums Interviews Document analysis Observation Group process (focus groups) §

Surveys Surveys (household, consumer, (household, consumer, etc)etc)

Targeted High validity/reliability Many analysis tools (stats) Cost effective (sampling) Online options are possible

Experience required Time consuming Requires a pretest Return or missing rate Sample size vs.

accuracy §

advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages

Public ForumsPublic Forums

Easy to set up Gives all the

opportunity to participate

High validity CYA

Hard to control Can be dominated by

a few Hard to summarize

results May not be reliable

(hard to replicate) §

advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages

InterviewsInterviews

Easy to conduct Can discover political

realities Delphi technique Can get ‘off the record’

information High validity/reliability Can explore answers Can get capacities via

stories & histories

Hidden agendas Hard to summarize Can be biased by who is

interviewed §

advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages

Document AnalysisDocument Analysis

Readily available information

Inexpensive High reliability Analysis tools exist Can get at capacities

via histories

Hard to analyze Hard to summarize Moderate validity

because you can not always find documents on topic §

advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages

ObservationObservation

Inexpensive High validity Gives information on

the context

Hard to analyze Hard to summarize May be biased due to

values of the designer/ observer

Moderate/low reliable (hard to replicate) §

advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages

Group Process (Focus Group Process (Focus Groups)Groups)

Detailed analysis Quick Can use techniques

as brainstorming & Nominal group

Online techniques are available, e.g., Listservs, chat rooms

Requires experience Requires planning Hard to get diversity Difficult to

summarize §

advantagesadvantages disadvantagesdisadvantages

Data Analysis in CAP Data Analysis in CAP EnvironmentEnvironment

When using statistics for the general public, remember the following principles:

Minimum data collection, maximum analysis

KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) Distinguish between data and

interpretation of data Use totals and average, percents, etc.

§

Data Presentation Data Presentation TechniquesTechniques

Know your audience (research vs. program grant) Executive summaries (assume multiple readers) One picture worth 1000 words Use indicators Use graphics (Excel charting feature is great) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) help Assume a 6th grade reading level for public Use tables and figures Put data in appendices unless needed to understand

text§

Politics of Data CollectionPolitics of Data Collection

Your sanction helps in collecting data Collection imposes on those providing data Use incentives/payoffs for those providing

data Primary data is a heavy burden on

collectors Secondary data usually easy to obtain The Internet is the first place to search Beware of biases and personal agendas §

ConclusionConclusion Data is best for identifying need Stories, histories, etc. best for identifying

capacities People know needs but need help with solutions Data presentation should be logical Minimum data collection, maximum use Assessment should present a picture/tell a story Credibility is hard to regain--get 2nd opinion to

avoid misinterpretation §