An in-depth examination of a current research area in community psychology, the construct of Empowerment and its social approaches, historical framework, methods for community-based researches and interventions. Qualitative methods, research in a situated perspective, Action Research, Service-Learning approach.
COMPULSORY READING:
- Zani, B. (a cura di) (2012). Psicologia di comunità. Prospettive, idee, metodi. Roma: Carocci.
- Mazzara, B.M. (a cura di) (2001). Metodi qualitativi in psicologia sociale: prospettive teoriche e strumenti operativi. Roma: Carocci.
- Harris, K. L. (2016). Reflexive voicing: a communicative approach to intersectional writing. Qualitative Research, 16(1), 111-127. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794115569560
- Schwartz, S. E., Kanchewa, S. S., Rhodes, J. E., Gowdy, G., Stark, A. M., Horn, J. P., ... & Spencer, R. (2018). “I'm Having a Little Struggle With This, Can You Help Me Out?”: Examining Impacts and Processes of a Social Capital Intervention for First‐Generation College Students. American Journal of Community Psychology, 61(1-2), 166-178. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12206
FURTHER reading (for students not attending seminars or workshops):
Please choose one of the following options (1 book or 2 papers), with a possible lecturer suggestion:
- De Piccoli, N. (2014). Salute e qualità della vita nella società del benessere. Roma: Carocci.
- Nardone, G. (2010). Il dialogo strategico. Milano: Ponte alle Grazie.
- Nardone, G., & Balbi, E. (2012). Solcare il mare all'insaputa del cielo: Lezioni sul cambiamento terapeutico e le logiche non ordinarie. Milano: Ponte alle Grazie.
- Briones‐Vozmediano, E., La Parra‐Casado, D., & Vives‐Cases, C. (2018). Health Providers’ Narratives on Intimate Partner Violence Against Roma Women in Spain. American Journal of Community Psychology. 61(3-4), 411-420. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12235
- Fereday, J., & Muir-Cochrane, E. (2006). Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: A hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 5(1), 80-92. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/160940690600500107
- Gustafson, E. L., Atkins, M., Rusch, D. (2018) . Community Health Workers and Social Proximity: Implementation of a Parenting Program in Urban Poverty. American Journal of Community Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12274
- Buckingham, S. L., Brodsky, A. E., Rochira, A., Fedi, A., Mannarini, T., Emery, L., ... & Gattino, S. (2018). Shared Communities: A Multinational Qualitative Study of Immigrant and Receiving Community Members. American Journal of Community Psychology. 62(1-2), 23-40. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12255
Suggested papers are available on line free of charge using a computer identifiable as coming from University of Florence (for instance in an university library).
Learning Objectives
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Deepen knowledge and understanding of the key concepts and the theoretical models of empowerment, based on an approach of community psychology, analyzing individual and social dimensions and their effectiveness in acquiring resources and competences.
Obtain applying knowledge and understanding, learning qualitative methods and research approaches. Obtain specialized competences for planning an action research and for using qualitative methods. Analyze and deepen necessary professional competences in order to define and realize community based interventions, aimed to promote empowerment.
Improve reflexivity, critical thinking and capability in making judgements.
Improve capability in communication, particularly as regard their learning.
Improve further learning skills for planning their own research.
Prerequisites
No.
Teaching Methods
TEACHING METHODS
Lectures, workshops and seminars. Meetings with experts working in Public Services and Non Profit Organizations. A participatory approach to learning will be emphasized.
Attending seminars will be optional, nevertheless work carried out during attended seminars will be evaluated during the examination.
Further information
ASSESSMENT METHODS
Examinations are graded according to a scale ranging from 0 to 30, with 18 as a pass mark.
Type of Assessment
LEARNING ASSESSMENT
Written and oral examination.
Written examination is composed both of open-ended questions to evaluate the achievement of aims about knowledge and understanding from a theoretical and applied point of view, including also competence about qualitative methods, and of a vignette with questions about a research or an intervention to evaluate students’ making judgments in the topics of the course, their capability in communication and their competences for further planning.
Written text will be discussed with students during oral examination, when course contents and optional reading will be deepened, too. Optional reading may be replaced by attending a seminar and producing a report.
Course program
COURSE CONTENTS
The course will illustrate the main theoretical framework of empowerment, analysis of models for self-empowerment and social empowerment, paying attention to psychological dimensions and intercultural dynamics. Community, cultural identity and membership between global and local processes.
Methods for analyzing local communities and their problems and Action Research. The Service-Learning approach. Community Impact evaluation.
Qualitative Research methods. Different approaches in qualitative analysis (Thematic Analysis, Grounded Theory, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Discursive Analysis), computer-assisted content analysis.
Examples coming from Researches, Action Researches and Community Interventions will be considered, deepening topics as system change promotion, change strategies, commitment of social actors in interventions, participatory evaluation in community psychology, with a special emphasis on marginalization, migration and intercultural societies, risky behaviors, resilience.