Roving: A methodology to improve external validity and increase asset-orientation in neighborhood-level research

Background: This presentation explores a new method for use in community-engaged research designs: roving. The roving process is more time efficient than ethnography, is less expensive than systematic social observation, and increases community voice in research. It also has potential to improve external validity of neighborhood-level measures. 

Methods: The roving method was implemented in a recent project investigating informal processes that minimize youth violence in high risk neighborhoods.  We partnered with a group of local residents who self-identify as “Roving Listeners” to perform their typical duties: spend time in public spaces o identify gifts, assets, and passions in the neighborhood. After the completion of one day of roving in a geographic area delineated by the academic researchers, the academic team conducted semi-structured interviews with rovers.

Results: Our preliminary analyses of interview data indicate that the data is more balanced than typical neighborhood data; containing information on both assets and deficits.  We also find that the involved community residents feel that they are active members of the research team. Additional analyses will determine whether this data can be used to improve external validity of focus group and survey instruments.

Conclusions: The roving approach is in line with emerging “thin slice judgments” methodologies, which are becoming more widely used as an efficient and feasible way to collect intuitive or automatic individual-level evaluations, allowing for the collection of richer information. Roving could be a comparable method at the neighborhood level and could improve both community involvement and external validity in neighborhood-level research.