3020.0: Monday, October 22, 2001 - 1:30 PM

Abstract #30766

Doing Data Analysis Collaboratively: Experiences from a Chicago PAR Project

Colleen M. Carpenter, MA1, Margaret A. Davis, RN, MSN, FNP2, Nadine R. Peacock, PhD3, Amanda Uris Brown, MPH3, Michele A. Kelley, ScD, MSW4, and other members of the Chicago Social Networks project4. (1) Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina, 1 Pine Bluff Trail, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, (2) Health Consortium of Illinios, 1350 E. Sibley, Dalton, IL 60419, (3) School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences Division, University of Illinois at Chicago, M/C 923, 1601 W. Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, (4) Health Research and Policy Centers, University of Illinois at Chicago, 850 West Jackson Blvd Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60607-3025

The Chicago Social Networks project was part of a national CDC initiative to reduce disparities in perinatal health. A key aspect of the project was to meaningfully involve community members in all phases of the research process, using a Participatory Action Research (PAR) model. While it is more typical to involve communities in the planning and early phases of community based research and at the conclusion of the project, community members are less engaged, if at all, in the data analysis. This presentation will describe the process and materials used to facilitate collaborative analysis of focus group data. This process included code creation, coding of text, and interpretation and presentation of findings. Data analysis involved holding a series of roundtable discussions, then dividing in to small "data teams" composed of at least one community partner and one academic researcher. All team members participated in a larger synthesis process that culminated in co-presentations at local health policy meetings and national conferences. Strengths and limitations of our approach will also be discussed, along with lessons learned from the perspectives of the community and academic partners.

Learning Objectives: Participants will gain practical information about strategies to analyze qualitative data collaboratively with community members.

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Methodology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA