Resources for Community-Based Research and Evaluations
Resources for Conducting Community-Based Research
Community-based research refers to research that is community-driven and incorporates community partners throughout the research process in meaningful ways. When CBSS agencies are engaged in research as active partners, there can be a considerable added value to the research, and benefit to the agency and the community. Below is a list of resources for researchers and CBSS organizations who are interested in learning more about conducing community-based research.
- Community Resource Handbook: This handbook from Simon Fraser University is designed to help community organizations gain a practical understanding of community-engaged research. It also provides a guiding framework for developing a CER project.
- Community-Based Research Modules: Trent University offers this free seven module course that introduces students and researchers to community-based research.
- Everyone can do Research: A Plain Language Guide on How to do Research: This plain language toolkit on how to do research was developed by Access Alliance and is intended for use by everyone, including non-academics and people from marginalized backgrounds. The key goal of the toolkit is to make research more accessible and inclusive by showing how everyone, including marginalized people, can do research by following key steps.
Resources for Conducting Evaluations
Evaluations of community-based programs or initiatives are important ways that organizations serving seniors can show the impacts of their work, assess their progress towards meeting their goals, and learn how they can improve their programs and processes. Different types of evaluations can be conducted depending on what you want to learn. For example, an outcome evaluation measures the effects of a program on its target audience, while a developmental evaluation can be used to support ongoing learning and adaptation of the program. Below is a list of resources that may be useful for organizations interested in learning more about conducting evaluations:
- BetterEvaluation: is a global platform that provides basic information on a range of evaluation approaches and methods.
- A Developmental Evaluation Companion: This guide from the McConnell Foundation introduces the concept of developmental evaluations and provides guidance for conducting developmental evaluations.
- The State of Evaluation: Measurement and Evaluation Practices in Canada’s Charitable Sector: This report from Imagine Canada summarizes findings on the evaluation practices and activities of charitable organizations in Canada.
Resources for Working with Data
Are you new to working with quantitative (numerical) data or need a brush-up on understanding statistics? The resources below may be helpful for you:
- Data 101: The Language of Data: The Ontario Nonprofit Network provides a plain language introduction to some basic statistical concepts.
- Statistics: Power from Data!: This resource from Statistics Canada will be useful for those who want to take a deeper dive into understanding statistics. The resource includes definitions of key statistical concepts and overviews of types of data and data analysis processes.