Graduation Date
1999
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Sociology
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Samuel P. Oliner
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Jerrald D. Krause
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Ronald A. Fritzsche
Keywords
Sociology
Subject Categories
Sociology
Abstract
Since December 1996, The Center for Applied Social Analysis and Education (CASAE) has conducted an evaluation for a juvenile justice program in Humboldt County. CASAE has taken a participatory approach to the evaluation by involving the probation officers and other practitioners in data collection and report composition. The evaluation is unique in that the researchers have the opportunity to experience the practitioner’s work first hand by observing the practitioner during visits to their clients. I have termed this collaborative tool, researcher/ practitioner teams (r/p teams). Such an experience may promote a bond of trust between the researcher and practitioner and therefore promote democratic dialogue between these parties. Collaboration between the researchers and practitioners is essential in participatory evaluation in order to create democratic dialogue and promote utilization of the evaluation; however, the literature available on participatory evaluation provides little instruction on the means of facilitating such dialogue. Utilizing an inductive research approach, this study investigates the usefulness of r/p teams in the evaluation, and its impact on joint report writing. The outcomes of in-depth interviews and discourse analysis of taped appraisal committee meetings show that r/p teams help create a bond of trust between the researcher and practitioner. This bond promotes democratic dialogue through better understanding of the program and the other’s perspective. The overt display of interest in the program, made by the researcher who participates in r/p teams, assures the practitioner that the researcher is vested in accurately evaluating the program. This assurance helps the practitioner speak openly and honestly. As a result of this study, three hypotheses are formed for future research. These concern motivation, democratic dialogue, and utilization in relation to r/p teams.
Recommended Citation
Misch, Regina Ann, "Researcher/Practitioner Teams: A Potential Tool for Creating Democratic Dialogue in Participatory Evaluation" (1999). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2417.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2417