Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte,
NC)
Urban
Research Group
Summary
Students, directed by faculty, design and conduct research for community-based
organizations (CBOs). The goal is to assist CBOs with their planning needs
and program implementation.
The Practice
Johnson C. Smith University’s mission is “to provide an outstanding
education for…students and provide leadership, service, and lifelong
learning to the larger community.” The University emphasizes student
outcomes, support for viable linkages with the community, and faculty
development. These goals, as well as the institutional mission, are reflected
in the community-based research activities under the auspices of the Urban
Research Group, a multidisciplinary group of faculty who conduct community
research.
Social sciences faculty members have conducted community research with
students for over 20 years, a process that was formalized when the Urban
Research Group was created with the assistance of the Council on Independent
Colleges’ Implementing Urban Missions grant program in 1997. The
Urban Research Group was developed to meet student needs for research
skills while at the same time serving the research needs of CBOs.
CBOs submit research requests to the Urban Research Group Coordinator,
who evaluates requests based on timeliness of research needs and available
faculty expertise. To enhance faculty research skills, faculty members
with research experience are sometimes paired with less experienced faculty
members. Faculty members utilize their classes, particularly research
methods classes, which are designated as service-learning courses. These
courses can be applied towards a student’s community service graduation
requirement.
Representatives from the CBO explain the research need to students, who,
in concert with the representatives and faculty, develop the research
design. The research instrument, administered by students and CBO members,
is conducted face-to-face with community residents or by telephone surveys.
Students enter the data for computer analysis and faculty write the final
reports that are submitted to the organizations.
Effectiveness
Since 1997, 23 research projects have been completed involving over 400
students in 18 majors, and 14 faculty members from 12 disciplines. Completed
projects include neighborhood assessments, a study to determine the demand
for a grocery store, health and illness surveys, and perceptions of racial
discrimination in court proceedings. Results have been used to develop
city-sanctioned neighborhood action plans for social and infrastructure
improvements; for grant applications for neighborhood programs; and to
design wellness and after school programs. The assessment instrument for
community organizations includes a nine-item Likert scale that measures
the quality of the research process. A measure of the overall quality
of research project process resulted in a 4.7 on a 5.0 scale (N=15 at
this time).
Students who write reflective papers report that they better understand
research methodology and see the importance of research in meeting community
needs. Students have also reported that working in the community helped
them understand why community service is an important part of the overall
university experience. Ten student participants, enrolled in, or soon
to attend graduate school, self-reported by telephone that they felt they
understood research methodology better than other students. Faculty members
feel that student participation in the projects increases student skills
in conducting primary research and results in higher quality Senior Investigative
Papers, compared to papers completed before 1997.
Resources
Carter, Deborah, Linette Fox, Thomas Priest and Freda McBride. 2002. Student
Involvement in Community-Based Research. Metropolitan Universities
Journal. 13 (1): 56-63
Contact Information
Dr. Linette Fox
Assistant Professor of Management/
Coordinator, Urban Research Group
Department of Business and Economics
Johnson C. Smith University
100 Beatties Ford Road
Charlotte, NC 28216
Phone: 704-378-3597
lfox@jcsu.edu
Dr. Deborah Carter
Associate Professor of Sociology/Chair
Social Sciences
Department of Social Sciences
Johnson C. Smith University
100 Beatties Ford Road
Charlotte, NC 28216
Phone: 704-378-1166
dcarter@jcsu.edu
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Effective
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