The Impact of Community Work

Karen McArdle has worked in the community development field for over 30 years and taught evaluation to professionals across multiple community contexts.

Kirsty Forrester has worked extensively as a community learning and development worker in local authority, third sector, social work and health settings.

Catherine McKay has worked for 37 years in Community Learning and Development at local and national policy levels across Scotland.

Ed Garrett combines an academic background in research and teaching with over fifteen years’ experience as a community development worker in the voluntary sector.

Sue Briggs is a local authority development officer with experience of managing quality improvement approaches, professional development and community learning development practice.

Introduction

Part One

Impact, Evidence and Transformation ~ Karen McArdle

Power, Empowerment, Impact and Voice ~ Karen McArdle

A Challenging Context in which Values Matter ~ Karen McArdle

Part Two

Presenting Findings to Different Audiences ~ Catherine Mckay and Karen McArdle

Planning and Evaluating ~ Karen McArdle, Kirsty Forrester, Ed Garrett

Anecdote and Observation ~ Ed Garrett, Karen McArdle

Questionnaires ~ Karen McArdle and Kirsty Forrester

Interviews and Focus Groups ~ Karen McArdle, Kirsty Forrester, Ed Garrett

Narrative Inquiry ~ Karen McArdle

Collaborative and Participatory Approaches ~ Karen McArdle

Social Impact Studies ~ Ed Garrett

The Long Haul, Longitudinal Studies ~ Karen McArdle, Catherine Mckay

What everyone needs to know, Management Information Systems (MISs) ~ Sue Briggs, Kirsty Forrester, Karen McArdle

Using Others, Secondary Data ~ Kirsty Forrester and Karen McArdle

Knowing Ourselves, Self Evaluation ~ Sue Briggs, Karen McArdle

Part Three

Reflections, Valuing Community Work ~ Karen McArdle, Sue Briggs, Kirsty Forrester, Ed Garrett and Catherine McKay