Assessing Qualitative Community Research

This chapter describes skills and strategies for connecting QCR theory with practice. Despite its limitations, qualitative research can be conceptualized as instruction, practice and assistance. They are assessed based on a project’s objectives. In all cases, making appropriate decisions about data is essential. Gathering evidence is linked to a general awareness of community-based research and a QCR orientation. These are achievable through practice and varied assessments. The chapter offers suggestions for faculty and student assessments. Guidelines for students are provided. Among the challenges of community-based research are collaboration, defining a community and entering a community. Each can be anticipated and reduced by careful planning and assessments. Conceptualizing a community in terms of its resiliency is a perspective and an approach that provides useful data, especially about marginalized communities. Finally, two getting started assignments are given; one on community observations, the other on reviewing print media.

Keywords: Linking Theory and Practice, Strategies for Research as Instruction, Practice and Assistance, QCR’s Limitations, Guidelines.