Using Research for Creative Social Program Design

1
Using Research for Creative Social Program
Design

• Social Planning Council of Ottawa
• Nathalie Leclerc
• nathaliel_at_spcottawa.on.caon
• and Dianne Urquhart
• dianneu_at_spcottawa.on.ca
• at the Sharing Our Strengths Conference
• June 7, 2005

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Sharing of Research Needs

• Demographics
• Age and Sex
• Diversity
• Themes
• Poverty
• Housing
• How To Research Tips
• Best Practices
• Evaluation
• Strategic Program Information (incl. engaging the
  community)
• Marketing and Fundraising Intelligence

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8 Steps in Research

• 1. Be clear on what you want to know
• 2. Be clear on how you will use it
• 3. Determine your resources
• 4. Decide upon appropriate methodology
• 5. Gather data and information
• 6. Analyze data
• 7. Interpret the data and information
• 8. Implement the dissemination and application
  plan

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Be Clear on What You Want to Know (Objectives)

• Be specific in your question(s), and try not to
  combine questions/issues.
• You cannot change your mind at the analysis stage
  and hope to be successful
• Examples
• How are we doing? Compared to before, other
  jurisdictions, others groups, opinion of users,
  cost effectiveness?
• Indicators of change Recycling, Complaints to
  Childrens Aid
• Get help from how to resources, SPC, CBRNO,
  University or college faculty or students,
  Internally/Peers, Independent researchers
• Have appropriate regard for the welfare of those
  involved and those who could be affected

5
Does ItExist?
E.g. Fact Sheet on Bank of Knowledge www.spcottaw
a.on.ca/ bok
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Does It Exist?
E.g. The One-Stop On-Line Research Resource at
www.spcottawa.on.ca /cbrno
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Be Clear on How You Will Use It

• Who is your audience?
• Primary
• Secondary
• Others (dont forget to make it available to the
  Ottawa community through the CBRNO One-Stop On
  Line Research Resource!)
• What is your dissemination and application plan
• Ensure proper consideration for the welfare of
  those involved and those who could be affected
• Consider your presentation / report strategy -
  length, manner of presenting the data (e.g. GIS,
  charts, etc.)

8
Determine Your Resources

• Budget
• HR including skills
• Timeframe
• Possible partners for the research
• Community organizations incl. SPC
• Community Based Research Network of Ottawa
• University / colleges
• Levels of government
• Community members
• Independent researchers
• Funders
• Possible partners for the dissemination

9
Decide upon appropriate methodology

• Quantitative
• Government (e.g. census)
• Agency data
• Qualitative
• Focus groups, key informant interviews, case
  studies, surveys
• Triangulation
• CBRNO has good how to resources
  (www.spcottawa.on.ca/cbrno)
• Contract for higher levels of skill
• Do not gather information you will not explicitly
  use.
• Do not try to measure what has been measured in
  a more valid manner elsewhere, e.g. rate of
  poverty in your neighbourhood.

10
Gather data and information

• Quantitative
• Statistics Canada, CMHC, program data
• Qualitative
• Survey, focus group, key informant interview

Assemblée francophone Comité interagences of
the Social Planning Council of Ottawa The
Francophones of Ottawa Statistical Profile of
the Francophone Community based on the 2001
census of Statistics Canada, and Catalogue of
Community Assets. October 2004
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Example QualitativeOnline Survey
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Analyze Data

• Look for meaning
• Is it saying what you think it is saying
• Quantitative
• Chart
• Table
• Map
• Qualitative
• Highlights
• Common themes
• Differences
• Minority themes

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Example data analysis Cost of Daycare vs.
Monthly Income by Source
The average cost for licensed preschool daycare
is 637 per month. Licensed daycare can cost
1141 per month for infants and toddlers.
Determinants of Health Working Group, c/o The
Social Planning Council of Ottawa-Carleton, The
Challenges Our Children Face. March 2000
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Example of GIS Mapping Children 0-14, in
Ottawa, 1996
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Example of GIS Mapping Children 0-14 by CT, in
Ottawa, 1996
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Example of GIS Mapping Children 0-14 by EA, in
Ottawa, 1996
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Table
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Chart
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Map
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Data and Information Interpretation

• What does it tell you about what you wanted to
  know
• Definitions
• Is it verifying or disproving any expectation /
  hypothesis.

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Example Youth Unemployment
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Example Youth by Labour Force Activity
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Dissemination and Application

• Present it appropriately to the given audience
• Implement a clear application strategy (e.g.
  training etc.) and follow up with that
• Dont forget to mention the source of information

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Sharing Useful Sources of Data and Information

• Ottawa-Gatineau Data Consortium
• Bank of Knowledge
• www.spcottawa.on.ca/bok
• City of Ottawa Website
• Statistics Canada
• Completed Ottawa-based Social Research at
  www.spcottawa.on.ca/cbrno
• Local administrative data (e.g. HIFIS at City of
  Ottawa)
• Universities and colleges
• Program data

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Ottawa-Gatineau Data Consortium - Sources

• 2001 Census
• Small Area Administrative Data Income for
  Family and Non-Family Persons (from tax files)
• Business Register
• Household Spending
• Labour Force Survey
• Uniform Crime Reporting Survey
• Projections
• Training

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Ottawa-Gatineau Data Consortium - Themes

• Children and Families
• Education
• Income / Poverty
• Labour Force Activity / Unpaid Work / Businesses
• Housing
• Aboriginal Peoples
• Immigrants
• Language
• Visible Minority Residents
• Persons with a Disability (Activity Limitation)
• Francophones
• Seniors

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Data Consortium - Geography

• Canada
• Province
• Census Metropolitan Area
• Census Agglomeration
• Census Subdivision
• Census Tract
• Dissemination Area
• Forward Sortation Area
• Catchment Area