Research Methods Workshops
Thursday, January 12, 2017
Registration fee is $100. Register early as space is limited!
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, Half-Day Workshop
RMW-1
Health Equity through Knowledge Democracy—Rationale and Methods in Community Based Participatory Research
Bonnie Duran, MPH, DrPH, University of Washington
Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and other forms of community-engaged research (CenR) has received growing attention in fields like social work, public health, education, nursing, sociology, etc, over the past several decades. Increasingly, academic-community partnerships are at the forefront of strategies to improving social and health status for vulnerable populations. As defined by the Kellogg Foundation, CBPR is a “collaborative approach to research that equitably involves all partners in the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each brings. CBPR begins with a research topic of importance to the community with the aim of combining knowledge and action for social change.” it is an overall orientation to research, which fundamentally changes the relationship between researchers and researched. With roots in popular education in Third World nations of Latin America, Asia and Africa, and in other traditions of action and participatory action research, it has been applied in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere in a range of disciplines and settings. The goal of this workshop is to provide participants with a general overview of theories, principles and strategies of CenR and CBPR, and an appreciation of advantages and limitations of these approaches. The presenter will present empirical evidence for current guidelines and standards for CenR and CBPR approaches across diverse populations.
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, Half-Day Workshop
RMW-2
InDIGIqualitative research methods: Incorporating Indigenous science into social work qualitative research methods training
Ramona Beltrán (Mexica/Yaqui), University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work
Indigenous science and corresponding art and media-based qualitative methods holds the potential to offer deeply contextualized and nuanced data gathering strategies and responses to pressing social issues in Indigenous and other marginalized communities. As such, it may help provide more complex and holistic understanding of social problems and effective solutions to pressing community health and wellness needs. This workshop is designed to provide participants with a foundation for advanced qualitative research methods with Indigenous and other diverse communities through using arts-based inquiry, visual praxis, storytelling, and interpretive methods for collecting and analyzing data. In her landmark book, Decolonizing Methodologies, Linda Tuhiwai Smith (1999) describes qualitative research as particularly responsive to Indigenous communities because “it has the potential to respond to epistemic challenges and crises, to unravel and weave, to fold in and unmask the layers of the social life and depth of human experience” (p. 103) by challenging representations, contextualizing and sharing storylines, and making meaning from “complex and shifting experiences, identities, and realities” (p. 103). Grounded in an Indigenous epistemological framework applied across intersectional and diverse communities, participants will explore how to rigorously investigate deeply contextualized questions about individual and social phenomena. Consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, self-reflexive praxis and location of self in relation to community and knowledge will be prioritized as qualitative questions are developed and considered.
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, Half-Day Workshop
RMW-3
Getting Connected to fMRI Technology and Methodology in Social Work Research
Jessica M. Black, Boston College, School of Social Work; Shaun M. Eack, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
This workshop aims to build an understanding and application of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for social work researchers. fMRI provides a non-invasive measure of brain structure and function, and is the leading functional neuroimaging technology in cognitive neuroscience research. Social work adheres to the biopsychosocial model of development yet the biological domain is frequently excluded from study designs. Neuroscientific research within the social sciences has grown considerably, and this direction presents exciting and innovative opportunities for social work researchers. Recent advancements in functional neuroimaging provides a complimentary and unique vantage point to understand, define and build cutting-edge social work interventions to improve conditions for clients and society. Importantly, extramural funding agencies, such as the NIH, seek interdisciplinary proposals that can integrate the biological and psychosocial underpinnings of health and disease.
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, Half-Day Workshop
RMW-4
Longitudinal and Multi-level Modelling Using R
Din Chen, PhD, UNC-CH, School of Social Work
This workshop presents the concepts and intuition for longitudinal and multilevel modeling with detailed step-by-step illustrations and implementation using free software R. Based on more than 20 years’ teaching and research experience, I will start with an overview of the well-known regression models for their pitfalls and biases if used to analysis data with longitudinal and multilevel structure and I then introduce how to analyze longitudinal and multilevel data appropriately in a step-by-step fashion implemented in free software R. I will briefly review the R so that the participants are not required to have prior knowledge on R. At the completion of the workshop, participants will have a solid understanding of the challenges and problems in longitudinal and multilevel modelling (including two-level and three-level hierarchical linear models). In addition, participants are able to follow the logic steps and examples in the workshop to analyze their own data.
Special Sessions on Research Priorities and Capacity Building
Thursday, January 12, 2017
These training-oriented sessions target cutting-edge topics vital to contemporary social work research. Registration fee is $15. Enroll early for these important opportunities to engage with national experts, funding institutions, and research colleagues.
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
SSRPCB-1
Developing Successful Minority Social Work Scholars
Ruth G. McRoy, PhD, Boston College;, Rowena Fong, EdD, University of Texas at Austin; Yolanda C. Padilla, PhD, University of Texas at Austin; Renee M. Cunningham-Williams, PhD, Washington University in Saint Louis; Joan Levy Zlotnik, PhD, ACSW, National Association of Social Workers; Carol M. Lewis, PhD, University of Texas at Austin
This interactive session is designed for deans and directors, faculty, doctoral students, and others interested in building a pool of successful minority researchers in social work. It will include a discussion of 1) specific strategies for mentoring and training future scholars, 2) building research infrastructure and capacity to enhance their success, 3) building transdisciplinary and cross-university connections to increase the likelihood of successful grant collaborations, 4) enhancing community agency/university research partnerships and 5) applying translational research strategies in communities participating in research. In addition, the panel will discuss strategies to stimulate funding support for social work research as well as tools for addressing administrative challenges in grant submission and the implementation process. Grand challenges for social work emphasize developing and supporting faculty at all levels. Faculty of color have particular obstacles that call for more discussion. Examples of successful minority scholars will be provided.
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
SSRPCB-2
Designing and Developing Culturally-Grounded, Community-Based Research From Within Our Own Communities: Challenges and Strengths
Darrell Wheeler, MPH, PhD, University of Albany; Michael Spencer, MSW, PhD, University of Michigan; Debora Ortega, MSW, PhD, University of Denver
This interactive session is designed for deans and directors, faculty, doctoral students, and others interested in identifying the research pitfalls and protocols for designing culturally-grounded, community-based research in partnership with your own racial/ethnic/tribal/cultural communities. The session will include the following topics: (1) implicit biases encountered in designing culturally-grounded CBPR research; (2) pitfalls, protocols, and strengths of conducting community-based research in partnership with communities in which one is a member; (3) recent research innovations in designing and developing culturally-grounded research; (4) discussion of how to build culturally-grounded CBPR interventions; and, (5) discussion on the development of a national community-oriented research network.
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 8:00 am – 10:00 am
SSRPCB-3
The Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office: Overview and SGM Research Activities at NIH
Karen L. Parker, PhD, MSW, NIH
The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-commissioned Institute of Medicine report on the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people identified research recommendations and a need for more and improved data and information focused on sexual and gender minorities (SGM). Responding to this call, NIH took several steps to address the recommendations and increase SGM-related research. This presentation will describe the current activities of NIH, including the work of the Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office (SGMRO). We will describe SGM research at NIH and the types of projects that are funded pertaining to sexual and gender minorities using FY2015 data. We will also look at trans-NIH efforts of the SGMRO, including the NIH SGM Research Coordinating Committee, as well as collaborations with other federal agencies through the HHS LGBT Issues Coordinating Committee, and the Federal Interagency Working Group for Measuring Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Finally, we will review the broader sexual and gender minority research strategic plan for NIH. We will review the goals and objectives and describe the implementation of such to date. We will also discuss public comment on the strategic plan, describe recent funding opportunity announcements, and review next steps.
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm
SSRPCB-4
Publishing Qualitative Research: Common Pitfalls and Solutions
Laura S. Abrams, PhD, UCLA, Luskin School of Public Affairs, Department of Social Welfare
This interactive session will help workshop participants strengthen their skills in publishing qualitative research articles in peer reviewed journals. The session will focus on issues including journal choice, research questions, use of theory, methodology (i.e., design, sampling, data collection, rigor, and analysis), presentation and discussion of results, limitations, and crafting responses to peer reviewers. The workshop is suitable for doctoral students, early career researchers, scholars who are new to qualitative methods, and those currently preparing qualitative manuscripts for publication.
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm
SSRPCB-5
Research Capacity Building with Transgender and Gender Expansive Youth
Matthew Chin, Fordham University; Milo H. Inglehart, Harvard University; Alex Kulick, University of California, Santa Barbara; Jama Shelton, Silberman, Hunter College; Leo Sheng Thornton, University of Michigan; Phoebe VanCleefe, True Colors Fund; Laura J. Wernick, Fordham University
Trans and gender expansive young people are finding innovative ways to resist the multiple and overlapping institutionalized challenges they face and to carve out meaningful lives for themselves. They do so despite their increased risk for harassment, abuse, criminalization, homelessness, and negative mental health and academic outcomes compared to the general population. This interactive workshop will 1) provide an overview on trans and gender expansive youth research, including its strengths and pitfalls. It will especially highlight the differences between trans and gender expansive youth and other members of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning (LGBTQQ) and similarly identified communities. It will further emphasize the diversity of experiences among trans and gender expansive youth, with particular attention to the experiences of trans and gender expansive youth of color; 2) discuss recent trends and strategies for successful intersectional community-based participatory research; 3) discuss trans and gender expansive youth research priority areas; and 4) identify ways to address cisgenderism and cis-heterosexism throughout our scholarship. Workshop presenters include trans and gender expansive young researchers and collaborators.
Thursday, January 12, 2017, 10:15 am – 12:15 pm
SSRPCB-6
Mentoring the Mentors of Underrepresented Racial/Ethnic Minorities: Beyond Cultural Competency
Tessa Evans-Campbell, PhD, University of Washington; Karen Lincoln, PhD, University of Southern California; Gita Mehrotra, PhD, Portland State University; E. Roberto Orellana, PhD, Portland State University; Cheryl Franks, PhD, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY; and Sean Joe, PhD, Washington University
The majority of mentoring programs and mentoring-related literature focus on mentee training needs, with significantly less guidance for mentors. Moreover, most mentoring the mentor models assume generic mentees (i.e., a form of normative Whiteness) with little attention to the social and structural concerns of underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities (UREM). Despite ongoing calls for increased attention to diversity in research training programs, especially in health disparities research where racial/ethnic disparities are striking, most programs tend to address the mentees’ cultural competency needs in conducting their research rather than the training needs of the mentors. In this capacity building session, we critique the frame of “diversity as the problem” (rather than the lack of mentor consciousness, knowledge, and skills), highlight the need to extend mentor training beyond aspirations of cultural competency toward cultural humility and cultural safety, and consider challenges to effective mentoring of UREM, both for White and UREM mentors. Examples of successful mentorship models will be provided.