Initial Research Steps
Table of Contents
Target Audience
How will we share the research in a way that’s useful for who we’re trying to reach? Will the project incorporate community stakeholders throughout the research process? Are the methods we’re using appropriate for who the research seeks to engage?
Designing, carrying out, and distributing the research should consider who the research seeks to communicate with. To have a community perspective and to be respectful of the community, community consultations should also occur. Who the research seeks to impact will also factor into who the target audience is.
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Needs Assessment
Does research project fill a gap? How will we identify the gap that the research fills?
There are many ways to carry out a needs assessment, depending on how exploratory or focused it is, how much time and capacity exist, and the population you’re researching. Some ways to conduct a needs assessment are surveys with the community organization’s clients, key informant interviews with staff and community members, a focus group, literature reviews about services or community needs, and talking with other community organizations about needs they perceive.
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Literature Review
How will we get the background knowledge necessary to be well-prepared for the research project?
Gathering information about the research project almost always includes a literature review. A literature review provides information about what’s already out there and what’s missing. Literature reviews can include academic publications but also grey literature (social media, articles, annual reports, etc.). Literature reviews can help avoid duplicating efforts, generate ideas for further research, and identify points of contact for the research.
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Identifying the Issue
How will we narrow-in on one issue and set guiding principles that will help our work stay focused?
Collecting and analyzing background information will help to zone in on the issue to be addressed. The values and goals of project partners will also help determine appropriate issues to address.
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Research Question
How will we get focused? Who will we consult?
The research question is what guides the entire research project. The research seeks to answer this question, so it should be specific enough to focus on and meaningful enough to warrant the research. Ensure that the question can actually be answered by the research.
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