Community Research Collaborative

Through our “Community Research Collaborative (CRC)” we are increasing the research and evaluation capacity of agencies and residents in support of action on social and economic issues.  The Collaborative includes the creation of new community based research, support for action research projects, a program of skill building activities on various research and evaluation topics, development of tools and templates, research mentoring , and significant involvement from skilled volunteers.  

 

The CRC is closely related to, and supports the capacity building program within the Community Information and Mapping System.  Our three major projects this year were:

  • Supporting the multi-agency research and evaluation program of the Ottawa Neighbourhoods Social Capital Forum;
  • Developing the “Promising Practices” videos and fact sheets, in collaboration with the Ottawa Ethnocultural Coalition and the Projet maison ethnoculturel francophone;
  • Publishing a range of new research reports (See “Research That Matters”, below).

 

We are grateful to the many skilled research volunteers who have help with this year’s projects.  Funding for the Community Research Collaborative has been received from the United Way / Centraide Ottawa and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, through a summer student position. 

Our Funders

The United Way of Ottawa

 

 

Our Priorities

COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

ACCESS TO BASICS

CREATING INCLUSION

RESEARCH AND VOLUNTARY SECTOR SUPPORTS

Research and Voluntary Supports

Research that Matters: The SPC delivers five broad types of research the voluntary sector needs, specifically:

  1. Overview, such as socio-demographic trends based on census or mapping of community infrastructure and services
  2. Strategic, e.g. analysis of neighbourhood level qualitative data to identify issues, strengths, proposed solutions & to develop community action plans
  3. Practice based, e.g. best or promising practices, intervention practice guidelines
  4. Evidence based operational, e.g. program evaluation, needs assessment related to program development
  5. Participatory research or action research, i.e. community groups doing their own research

Supports to the Voluntary Sector: The SPC is pleased to lend its experience in social research, policy analysis, and community consultation to not-for-profit organizations and community members. Our goal is to increase the research and evaluation capacity of agencies and residents to take action on social and economic issues.