COMMUNITY - TOWARD AN INTEGRATION OF RESEARCH, THEORY, EVALUATION, AND PUBLIC POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

• NCJ Number: 50396
• Journal: Social Indicators Research Volume: 4 Dated: (1977) Pages: 25-66
• Author(s): S J FITZSIMMONS; W G LAVEY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 42 pages
• Corporate Author: D Reidel Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

A PARADIGM FOR THE ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITIES AND INVESTMENTS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THEM IS PRESENTED FOR USE BY THEORETICIANS, EVALUATORS, AND PUBLIC POLICYMAKERS.

Abstract

THE FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE OF THE PARADIGM IS TO PROVIDE A COMMON FRAMEWORK FOR USING THE COMMUNITY AS A UNIT OF ANALYSIS. THE COMMUNITY IS CONCEPTUALIZED AS BEING SYSTEMIC, HOLISTIC, INTERACTIVE, AND DYNAMIC. COMMUNITY IS DEFINED IN TERMS OF 15 SECTORS: EDUCATION, ECONOMIC BASE, EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME, WELFARE, GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND SERVICES, LAW AND JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES, RECREATION AND LEISURE, HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD, TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATIONS, RELIGIOUS LIFE, AND FAMILY LIFE. FOUR GENERAL GOALS MOTIVATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMUNITY RESEARCH PARADIGM: (1) TO DEVELOP A CONCEPTUALIZATION, DEFINITION, AND APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF COMMUNITIES AND INVESTMENT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP COMMUNITIES; (2) TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW A COMMUNITY AND ITS PEOPLE, CULTURE, AND INSTITUTIONS INFLUENCE AND ARE INFLUENCED BY INVESTMENT PROGRAMS; (3) TO GAIN A PERSPECTIVE ON FUNCTIONS PLAYED BY VARIOUS SECTORS THAT COMPRISE THE LARGER COMMUNITY; AND (4) TO DERIVE INFORMATION OF VALUE TO SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, PROGRAM EVALUATORS, AND PUBLIC POLICY OFFICIALS REGARDING THE NATURE OF COMMUNITIES AND EFFECTIVE WAYS OF PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THEM. SOCIAL UNITS USEFUL IN A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO COMMUNITY STUDY ARE DEFINITION OF SOCIAL UNITS, OBSERVATION OF UNIT ACTIVITIES, OBSERVATION OF UNIT INTERACTIONS, OBSERVATION OF INTERACTION PATTERNS OVER TIME, AND CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF A SOCIAL SYSTEM OR SOCIAL STRUCTURE INVOLVING THESE UNITS. CONCEPTS OF THE SYSTEMS APPROACH TO COMMUNITY STUDY ARE EXPLORED, INCLUDING STATUS, INTERACTION, CHANGE, DUALITY OF INTERACTION AND CHANGE, AND VIABILITY. OBJECTIVES OF COMMUNITY STUDY IN RELATION TO THESE CONCEPTS AND TYPES OF ANALYSIS THAT CAN BE CONDUCTED USING COMMUNITY STUDY ARE DELINEATED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (DEP)