A comparison of interviews, focus groups, and photovoice to identify sanitation priorities and increase success of community-based sanitation systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. 1451-1463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allie Davis ◽  
Amy Javernick-Will ◽  
Sherri M. Cook
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Sanitation Systems

Semi-structured interviews with females and community members identified the greatest number of unique and most priorities in resource-limited communities.

scholarly journals Rethinking success, integrity, and culture in research (part 1) — a multi-actor qualitative study on success in science

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noémie Aubert Bonn ◽  
Wim Pinxten
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Research Integrity ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Students

Abstract Background Success shapes the lives and careers of scientists. But success in science is difficult to define, let alone to translate in indicators that can be used for assessment. In the past few years, several groups expressed their dissatisfaction with the indicators currently used for assessing researchers. But given the lack of agreement on what should constitute success in science, most propositions remain unanswered. This paper aims to complement our understanding of success in science and to document areas of tension and conflict in research assessments. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with policy makers, funders, institution leaders, editors or publishers, research integrity office members, research integrity community members, laboratory technicians, researchers, research students, and former-researchers who changed career to inquire on the topics of success, integrity, and responsibilities in science. We used the Flemish biomedical landscape as a baseline to be able to grasp the views of interacting and complementary actors in a system setting. Results Given the breadth of our results, we divided our findings in a two-paper series, with the current paper focusing on what defines and determines success in science. Respondents depicted success as a multi-factorial, context-dependent, and mutable construct. Success appeared to be an interaction between characteristics from the researcher (Who), research outputs (What), processes (How), and luck. Interviewees noted that current research assessments overvalued outputs but largely ignored the processes deemed essential for research quality and integrity. Interviewees suggested that science needs a diversity of indicators that are transparent, robust, and valid, and that also allow a balanced and diverse view of success; that assessment of scientists should not blindly depend on metrics but also value human input; and that quality should be valued over quantity. Conclusions The objective of research assessments may be to encourage good researchers, to benefit society, or simply to advance science. Yet we show that current assessments fall short on each of these objectives. Open and transparent inter-actor dialogue is needed to understand what research assessments aim for and how they can best achieve their objective. Study Registration osf.io/33v3m.

scholarly journals Culturally Driven Monitoring: The Importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge Indicators in Understanding Aquatic Ecosystem Change in the Northwest Territories’ Dehcho Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 7923
Author(s):  
Sydney Stenekes ◽  
Brenda Parlee ◽  
Cristiana Seixas
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Ecosystem Change ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Hydroelectric Development ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Quality Water

There is growing concern about the sustainability of freshwater ecosystems in northern Canada that are under significant stress from climate change, resource development, and hydroelectric development, among others. Community-based monitoring (CBM) based on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) has the potential to contribute to understanding impacts on the environment and community livelihoods. This paper shares insights about culturally driven monitoring, through collaborative research with Kátł’odeeche First Nation (KFN) in the Northwest Territories. This research was initiated in 2018 to improve understanding of the changes occurring in the Hay River and Buffalo River sub-basins, which extend primarily across the Alberta and Northwest Territories borders. Drawing on 15 semi-structured interviews conducted with KFN elders, fish harvesters, and youth, this paper illustrates the kinds of social–ecological indicators used by KFN to track changes in the health of aquatic systems as well as the fishing livelihoods of local people. Utilizing indicators, fishers observe declines in fish health, water quality, water quantity, and ice thickness in their lifetime. Community members perceive these changes to be a result of the cumulative effects of environmental stressors. The indicators as well as trends and patterns being observed and experienced can contribute to both social learning in the community as well as the governance of the larger Mackenzie River Basin.

scholarly journals How community-based social enterprises struggle with representation and accountability

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reinout Kleinhans ◽  
Nick Bailey ◽  
Jessica Lindbergh
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Content Type ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Using Data

Purpose Community-based social enterprises (CBSEs), a spatially defined subset of social enterprise, are independent, not-for-profit organisations managed by community members and committed to delivering long-term benefits to local people. CBSEs respond to austerity and policy reforms by providing services, jobs and other amenities for residents in deprived communities, thus contributing to neighbourhood regeneration. This paper aims to develop a better understanding of how CBSEs perceive accountability, how they apply it in the management and representation of their business and why. Design/methodology/approach Nine case studies of CBSEs across three European countries (England, the Netherlands and Sweden) are analysed, using data from semi-structured interviews with initiators, board members and volunteers in CBSEs. Findings CBSEs shape accountability and representation in response to the needs of local communities and in the wake of day-to-day challenges and opportunities. Apart from financial reporting, CBSEs apply informal strategies of accountability which are highly embedded in their way of working and contingent upon their limited resources. Originality/value Although research has shown the complex governance position of CBSEs, their application of accountability to target communities and other stakeholders is unclear. The paper coins the term “adaptive accountability,” reflecting a relational, dialectic approach in which formal, costly accountability methods are only applied to legally required forms of accounting, and informal practices are accepted by funding agencies and governments as valid forms of accountability, assessing CBSEs’ societal value in more open terms.

Evaluation of a rural community’s approaches to promoting physical activity

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi M. King ◽  
Jason A. Rice ◽  
Ian Maki
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Funding Agency ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Healthy Community ◽  
Physical Activity Programming

To address the lack of physical activity opportunities in their rural community, a non-profit coali-tion formed to address health disparities. This evaluation investigated the coalition’s effectiveness in movingtoward sustainable physical activity programming for all community members. Participants engaged insemi-structured interviews or focus groups, and observations and informal conversations were conductedat approximately 30 meetings (e.g., town hall), programs (e.g., funding agency meetings), and events(e.g., two fundraising galas). A commitment to partnerships, the diversity of coalition member’s expertise,a focus on equity, and the recognition that a healthy community is economically attractive positioned thecoalition for success.

scholarly journals Mental illness in Bwindi, Uganda: Understanding stakeholder perceptions of benefits and barriers to developing a community-based mental health programme

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen L. Sessions ◽  
Lydia Wheeler ◽  
Arya Shah ◽  
Deenah Farrell ◽  
Edwin Agaba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Psychiatric Disease ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Wide Range

Background: Mental illness has been increasingly recognised as a source of morbidity in low- and middle-income countries and significant treatment gaps exist worldwide. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of task sharing through community-based treatment models for addressing international mental health issues.Aim: This paper aims to evaluate the perceptions of a wide range of mental health stakeholders in a Ugandan community regarding the benefits and barriers to developing a community-based mental health programme.Setting: Bwindi Community Hospital (BCH) in south-west Uganda provides services through a team of community health workers to people in the Kanungu District.Methods: Thematic analysis of 13 semi-structured interviews and 6 focus group discussions involving 54 community members and 13 mental health stakeholders within the BCH catchment area.Results: Stakeholders perceived benefits to a community-based compared to a hospital-based programme, including improved patient care, lower costs to patients and improved community understanding of mental illness. They also cited barriers including cost, insufficient workforce and a lack of community readiness.Conclusions: Stakeholders express interest in developing community-based mental health programmes, as they feel that it will address mental health needs in the community and improve community awareness of mental illness. However, they also report that cost is a significant barrier to programme development that will have to be addressed prior to being able to successfully establish such programming. Additionally, many community members expressed unique sociocultural beliefs regarding the nature of mental illness and those suffering from a psychiatric disease.

scholarly journals Wearing the Label of Mental Illness: Community-Based Participatory Action Research of Mental Illness Stigma

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Theurer ◽  
Nicole Jean-Paul ◽  
Kristi Cheyney ◽  
Mirka Koro-Ljungberg ◽  
Bruce Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Mental Illness Stigma ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based

Stigma remains an impediment to seeking and receiving the requisite care for mental illness. To enhance a local National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) affiliate’s understanding of community members’ perceptions of mental illness and its associated stigma, a community-based participatory action research study was conducted. The study addressed the following research question: how do community members understand and experience the stigma associated with mental illness? Twenty-two participant-researchers wore mental illness labeled T-shirts around the local community, recorded their observations and reflections of this experience and recruited twenty-two community members for semi-structured interviews about mental illness stigma. Domain analysis of the interviews revealed community members’ understandings of (1) sources of stigma, (2) impacts of stigma, (3) conceptualizations of stigma and (4) pathways to change stigma. Findings were presented to members of the local NAMI affiliate as well as other community members. Practical implications, specific to the community of interest, are discussed.

scholarly journals Rethinking success, integrity, and culture in research (part 1) — A multi-actor qualitative study on success in science

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noémie Aubert Bonn ◽  
Wim Pinxten
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Research Integrity ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
Research Quality ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Research Students

ABSTRACTBackgroundSuccess shapes the life and careers of scientists. But success in science is difficult to define, let alone to translate in indicators that can be used for assessment. In the past few years, several groups expressed their dissatisfaction with the indicators currently used for assessing researchers. But given the lack of agreement on what should constitute success in science, most propositions remain unanswered. This paper aims to complement our understanding of success in science and to document areas of tension and conflict in research assessments.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with policy makers, funders, institution leaders, editors or publishers, research integrity office members, research integrity community members, laboratory technicians, researchers, research students, and former-researchers who changed career to inquire on the topics of success, integrity, and responsibilities in science. We used the Flemish biomedical landscape as a baseline to be able to grasp the views of interacting and complementary actors in a system setting.ResultsGiven the breadth of our results, we divided our findings in a two-paper series, with the current paper focusing on what defines and determines success in science. Respondents depicted success as a multi-factorial, context-dependent, and mutable factor. Success appeared to be an interaction between characteristics from the researcher (Who), research outputs (What), processes (How), and luck. Interviewees noted that current research assessments overvalued outputs but largely ignored the processes deemed essential for research quality and integrity. Interviewees sustained that we need a diversity of indicators to allow a balanced and diverse view of success; that assessments should not blindly depend on metrics but also value human input; that we must value quality over quantity; and that any indicators used must be transparent, robust, and valid.ConclusionsThe objective of research assessments may be to encourage good researchers, to benefit society, or simply to advance science. Yet we show that current assessments fall short on each of these objectives. Open and transparent inter-actor dialogue is needed to understand what research assessments aim for and how they can best achieve their objective.Trial Registrationosf.io/33v3m

scholarly journals Implementing a community-based tuberculosis programme in the Omaheke region of Namibia: nurses’ perceived challenges

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 54-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simbisayi Zvavamwe ◽  
Valerie J Ehlers
Keyword(s):  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Tb Control ◽  
Tb Treatment ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
The World ◽  
Tuberculosis Programme ◽  
Alcohol And Drug Abuse ◽  
Cure Rates

Tuberculosis (TB) is a resurgent disease in many regions of the world, including Namibia, fuelled by poor TB control programmes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and poverty. The purpose of this survey was to identify nurses’ perceived challenges in implementing a community-based TB programme in the Omaheke region of Namibia. Structured interviews were conducted with 40 nurses involved in providing TB treatment and care in the Omaheke region. Patient-related challenges which hampered TB treatment included alcohol and drug abuse, poverty and stigma. Lack of transport for nurses to do community-based TB work, centralised TB services and patients’ lack of transport were access-related challenges. Knowledge-related challenges involved a lack of TB knowledge by both nurses and community members. The HIV pandemic has increased the number of TB patients and increased nurses’ workloads, aggravating the burden of TB as a resurgent disease in this region. Decentralisation of TB care to community and family levels would be necessary to reduce the number of people with active TB in the community, and to enhance the TB cure rates, in the Omaheke region of Namibia. In order to implement a successful communitybased TB programme, the patient-related, access-related and knowledge-related challenges, perceived by the nurses, need to be addressed effectively. Opsomming Tuberkulose (TB) is ‘n siekte wat herrys in baie dele van die wêreld, insluitende Namibië, en wat aangevuur word deur swak TB-beheerprogramme, menslike immuniteitsgebreksvirus (MIV) en armoede. Die doel van die opname was om waargenome uitdagings van verpleegkundiges te identifiseer tydens die implementering van ‘n gemeenskapsgebaseerde TB-program in die Omaheke-streek van Namibië. Gestruktureerde onderhoude is met 40 verpleegkundiges gevoer wat gemoeid was met TB-behandeling en -versorging in die Omaheke-streek. Pasiëntverwante uitdagings wat TB-behandeling nadelig beïnvloed, sluit alkohol- en dwelmmisbruik asook armoede en stigma in. ‘n Gebrek aan vervoer vir verpleegkundiges om gemeenskapsgebaseerde TB-werk te doen, die sentralisasie van TB-dienste en pasiënte se gebrek aan vervoer was die toegangsverwante uitdagings. Kennisverwante uitdagings het die gebrek aan TB-kennis van beide verpleegkundiges en gemeenskapslede ingesluit. Die MIVpandemie het die aantal TB-pasiënte vermeerder en verpleegkundiges se werksladings verhoog, wat die las van TB as ‘n herrysende siekte in die streek vererger het. Desentralisasie van TB-sorg tot op gemeenskaps- en gesinsvlak sal nodig wees om die getal mense met aktiewe TB in die gemeenskap te verminder, en om die TB-geneeskoerse in die Omaheke-streek van Namibië te verbeter. Ten einde ‘n suksesvolle gemeeskapsge-baseerde TB-program te implementeer, moet die pasiënt-, toegangs- en kennisverwante uitdagings, soos deur die verpleegkundiges waargeneem, effektief oorkom word.

scholarly journals Community-Based Ecotourism Management: The Case of a Cooperative in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, Mexico

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-170
Author(s):  
Jorge Ramos-García ◽  
Juan Pedro Ibarra-Michel ◽  
Mónica Velarde-Valdez
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
National Commission ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Natural Protected Areas ◽  
Community Residents ◽  
The Government

Abstract Nature-based ecotourism has been a growing trend, especially in rural areas where balance with the environment is desirable and it turns into a driver for economic and social development. An ecotourism cooperative operating in the “El Verde Camacho” Sanctuary, is an example of collaborative work between the government experts and the community. The cooperative was created with the support of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP, in Spanish Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas), developed and funded by this government office, it involved the advice of experts in ecology as well as cooperative’s management and residents of “El Recreo” community. This study aims to describe the involvement process and community management as well as the benefits derived from ecotourism according to the reviewed literature; a case study with a qualitative approach was defined in the Sanctuary in this regard. Semi-structured interviews were used to discover community members’ perception of management involvement and benefits of ecotourism. The findings show positive opinions of community residents.

scholarly journals Re-Inventing Community Development: Utilizing Relational Networking and Cultural Assets for Infrastructure Provision

Societies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Che
Keyword(s):  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
North West ◽  
Community Transformation ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Cultural Assets ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Infrastructure Provision ◽  
External Stakeholders

Utilizing relational networking and cultural assets provide an arena for village development associations (VDAs) to fill the gaps in infrastructure in resource-limited communities of Cameroon’s north-west region. This case study interrogates the foundational thesis of relational networking and cultural assets deployed to deal with social development challenges. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with community participants. Purposive sampling was used, and data were analyzed and critically synthesized with comparative literature. Communities increasingly shoulder their own development through a multiplicity of the agency displayed by internal and external stakeholders. The analysis captures a typology of incremental cultural assets, galvanized and re-engineered, promoting a rejuvenated community. A multi-layered approach centered on intersecting elements with unvarying input from community members are perceptible. Though the translational benefits are not clear-cut, relational networking and incremental cultural assets hold the prospect for community transformation in infrastructure provision, for example, supply of fresh water, equipping schools, community halls, and building roads, bridges, and community halls. In the process, social inequality and other barriers of disadvantage are narrowed.

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