Participatory Action Research

One of the distinctive features of a Practicum is its reliance on a research tradition known as "participatory action research" (PAR). This postmodern approach to inquiry requires social researchers to collaborate with community groups (social service organizations, grass-roots collectives, etc) directly involved in addressing social problems in their communities. The goal of this collaborative relationship is to allow both parties to take advantage of the special knowledge and skills that each brings to understanding and helping to resolve social problems. Organization members who are the front lines in dealing with problems can offer researchers their informed perspectives on the specific issues that need to be addressed and potentially unique insights about the nature and causes of these problems. 

Academic researchers can draw on their disciplinary knowledge base and use their skills in data collection and analysis to generate research findings valuable to their community partners. In addition to increasing the validity and relevancy of research findings, such collaborative relationships serve to "democratize" social scientific research by allowing nonacademic community members to participate in the research process.

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2002-2003

The 4th Graduate Research Practicum was organized around a study of affordable housing issues in the Richmond area. Dr. Nita Bryant,  the '02-'03 practicum director, supervised graduate students Mathew Steele, Coleman Rose, and Jeremy Redford (see picture below) in a variety of projects designed to provide housing assessments for the United Way. 

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2001-2002

The 3rd Graduate Research Practicum was organized around a study of domestic violence in Virginia. Dr. David Bromely,  the '01-'02 practicum director, supervised graduate students Adam Alden, Rosita Alicea, Kendra Cover, and Mike Stern in a variety of projects designed to analyze data collected by domestic violence service providers / victims' advocates throughout the state from 1998-2000. The database, VADATA, represents efforts to standardize and centralize the collection of information on clients' needs, and on the incidence, nature, and context of domestic violence. In collaboration with service providers, students designed projects around a number of important issues.

• Adam Alden's research centers on the relationship between clients' age, types of violence experienced, and types of services requested.

• Rosita Alicea's project examines variations in the help-seeking behaviors of clients based on race, age, educational level, economic status, and parental status. It also explores the relationship between time elapsed from the precipitating incident and types of services sought.

• Kendra Cover's study focuses on the effects of witnessing domestic violence on children.

• Mike Stern's project examines contextual and structural factors related to the use of firearms in incidents of family violence.

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2000-2001

The 2nd Graduate Research Practicum was organized around a study of social factors that impact the health and safety of economically disadvantaged children in Richmond and surrounding communities. Dr. Stephen Lyng, the '00-'01 practicum director, supervised graduate students Sonja Wynn, Amy Hearn, Carol Wells, and Jaime Maerten in a variety of projects focused on Improving the Health and Safety of "At-Risk" Children. Students collaborated with two local organizations, Youth Matters, and Children's Health Involving Parents (CHIP) Both of these organizations are at the forefront of efforts in Richmond to improve the life circumstances of "at-risk" children. 

Following several meetings with representatives of Youth Matters and CHIP during the spring and fall '00 semesters, the Practicum students formulated their research problems, identified data sources and data collection tools, secured IRB approval for the projects, and developed thesis proposals. Each project dealt with an important issue relating to the health and well-being of children living in poverty. 

• Sonja Wynn's project focused on the relationship between academic performance and resilience to risk behaviors in the context of a tutor/mentoring program initiated by Youth Matters several years ago. 

• Amy Hearn's project centered on the influence of various social psychological factors on maternal-child relationships in families serviced by CHIP.

• Jaime Maerten assessed the impact of family services provided by CHIP on the parental competence of cognitively impaired mothers. 

• Carol Wells is completing her examination of CHIP data to discern how former welfare mothers' return to paid labor, as a result of recent welfare reform legislation, is affecting the health and well-being of their children. 

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1999-2000

The Masters Program in Sociology conducted its first year-long research practicum during the 1999-2000 academic year as part of its focus area on urban "Social Problems and Social Change." In the practicum, four students conducted individual thesis projects while regularly meeting to discuss progress, provide each other with feedback, and troubleshoot problems. Following the PAR model, students teamed up with community partners to identify research questions of mutual interest. Students were challenged to develop projects that had both practical utility for the partners and interest from a sociological perspective. Each of the 4 students met the challenge, producing both a thesis and a community report.

This first practicum was loosely organized around homelessness in Richmond. "Homeward: Richmond's regional response to homelessness" was the primary community partner. Homeward's responsibilities include helping to coordinate delivery of services to the homeless and coordinating HUD's "Continuum of Care" grant application process, the means by which most services in the area are funded. Homeward is a network or coalition of community service providers and other interested parties. Several of these
member organizations and agencies took part in the practicum process.

Student Projects Included:

• A comparison of barriers and motivations affecting congregational involvement with homeless services, paying particular attention to the race/class differences amongst congregations (Valerie Carter). 

• A frame analysis of the areas of agreement and disagreement amongst participants in Homeward, paying special attention to issues of organizational location and power (Lyndsi Hicks). 

• A "promising practice" report on programs to improve the academic performance of homeless children (Jana Olshansky).

• A literature review of what is known about HIV/AIDS amongst the homeless, including contraction rates, knowledge of the disease, prevalence of high-risk behavior, and effectiveness of efforts at education and prevention (Susan Kennedy).