It is very interesting reading what our different expectations are and they
way those match nicely, or have bits of friction too! All good Comm Psych
stuff isn't it. I guess I wanted to chip in a little on this idea of being
open to different perspectives. There are two community psychology values
that jump out for me here, one being 'diversity' and the other being 'social
justice'. One of the things I'd like to discuss more is the tension between
celebrating diversity through being open to different perspectives, and the
value of social justice. So, if someone offers a perspective that is
oppressive, eg. Racist, sexist, homophobic/heterosexist ... How do I
reconcile that respect of other perspectives alongside the values of social
justice. This is sort of an easy example, as the answer is fairly clear,
but what happens when the perspective is more subtly oppressive, maybe
individualism could be an example - which value matters most about what I
say/do/reflect on next? I'd like as a community psychologist for us to also
think about those tensions too, and how that debate might lead to times when
we don't offer equal value to all perspectives.
Another expectation I wanted to add in, is I think we could give some
attention to how we can offer critical exchanges without them being personal
exchanges, how we can disagree and challenge whilst still building the
discussion and relationships we have on the list. I sometimes wonder if it
is possible to have critical exchanges with people when we are really
communicating with a big group where we don't know much about each other.
Are there ways we can develop a collective expectation around having safe
and constructive critical debate?
Rebekah
-----Original Message-----
From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Alex Hamlin
Sent: 13 July 2006 08:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] expectations
Thanks Annie,
You have summarised exactly what I wanted to say!
I have recently joined the list serve and have found some of the discussions
very useful - particularly those that have directed readers to useful
articles and books, and those that have offered thoughtful reflections on
current movements in psychology. However, I have felt disappointed in the
amount of e-mails that have come through that don't seem to reflect what I
understood to be central value of community psychology; that is an openness
to different perspectives. I know community psychology is a developing
'discipline' and as such will inevitably go through a period of defining
what it is and what it is not. But I hope this can happen in an open and
inclusive way without any
individuals feeling rejected and personally criticised. What I like
best about community psychology is the stance that everyone has equal value
and that professional status is not necessary for community psychology
practice. Please let's not become 'precious' about 'our patch'.
Despite having said that I very much enjoy being part of the serve for all
those positive contributions that are made! I look forward to continuing to
learn more about what the rest of you are doing and thinking about.
Alex Hamlin
-----Original Message-----
From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Annie Mitchell
Sent: 13 July 2006 01:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: expectations
Dear All,
Dear all,
The contributions I especially appreciate are when someone sends out a
question and others are generous with thoughtul replies; when people send
links or information about resources; when people send descriptions of work
that they have done (in any field where there are potential lessons for
undertanding and practice of community psychology broadly defined); where
people offer thoughtful and inclusive reflections; and contributions that
make me think and question my own assumptions.
The contributions that make me think maybe I want to leave the list are
those when we seem to be getting close to personal insults, individual
domination of the list or professional/personal competitiveness . There is
more of that than I expected when i joined the list. But I value being able
to stick with it and trying to process differences and disagreements.
Annie
-----Original Message-----
From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List on behalf of David Fryer
Sent: Wed 12/07/2006 16:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: expectations
This seems another opportunity to articulate another expectation about this
list.
I expect this to be a list on which discussion takes place about community
psychology. I do not expect it to be a discussion list about clinical
psychology, a discussion list about health service provision, a discussion
list upon which one offers and discloses anguish and receives counselling, a
discussion list upon which one ventilates one's anger at life's injustices
as one sees them, a discussion lists on which one socialises etc., except
insofar as that is unavoidable in discussion community psychology. If I
expected to discuss those other matters I would join or start up different
lists.
Because community psychology is not just a body of knowledge claims but a
set of practices underpinned by a set of powerfully held values, I expect a
community psychology discussion list to not only be about community
psychology but to embody community psychology values and its processes to be
consistent with those values.
I regard community psychology as, crucially, a critical approach. Much of
what gets offered as community psychology seems to me to be as problematic
as psychology in general.
I do not think critical scrutiny of either psychology in general or critical
community psychology in particular can be overdone and I do not see
reflexive critical scrutiny of our own ideas, practices etc as a diversion
from action but as an essential component of critical psychology action
(praxis). I regard it as essential that we constantly question whether what
community psychologists are collectively engaged in is making things worse
rather than better. Foucault and other writers have given us no excuse to be
ignorant or naive as to how problematic and complicit a discipline
psychology in its various guises is.
I agree that we have common struggles - one of those common struggles is to
be aware of, avoid collusion with or contest an ideologically and
practically problematic discipline which promotes the interests of the most
powerful and works against the interests of the least powerful, irrespective
of the intentions of many of those enacting it.
So, whilst I also have other expectations too and I also accept the right of
other people posting to this list to have other expectations and I am here
just making my own expectations clear, one of my expectations of this list
is that it is a forum for discussion about, and embodying, critical
community psychology.
Regarding time . . . personally, I do not contribute to this list relatively
often because I have too much time on my hands but because there is so much
injustice and misery and so little time to contest it.
Because of that time pressure, another expectation I have of this list is
that we do not waste each others' time with matters which are really nothing
to do with tackling injustice and misery through critical community
psychology
David
David Fryer
Community Psychology Group
University of Stirling
FK9 4LA
Scotland
+44 (0) 1786 467650 (tel)
+44 (0) 1786 467641 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Franks, Wendy -
Clinical Psychologist
Sent: 12 July 2006 1:23 pm
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] what do WHICH people want?
Hi all,
I've only just had time to skim some of the arguments in this
thread, but was aware that Michael's comment below struck me as important,
and that it also seemed to get lost in the discussion.
As someone who has the privilege of earning a living from working
with people, and (for now) seem to have a lot of choice in how I do that, I
try to focus my energies to work in ways that at least attend to social
inequalities and how they relate to people's health. I'm aware that trying
to maintain a critical perspective on many of the dilemmas I encounter in
this work (and that are being discussed on this list in a lot more detail
than I feel I have time to fully engage in) leave me feeling uncertain and
ineffective, as well as sometimes exhausted, anxious and even a little
defensive about what I'm doing. I'm aware that I do not often feel as
powerful as I am sometimes imagined to be because of my relatively
priviliged position, which sometimes adds to my experience of responsibility
without much real power.
I really appreciated the inclusiveness of Michael's post, and the
recognition of our common struggles and needs, as well as our differences.
Wendy
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Swindlehurst
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 06 July 2006 19:53
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] what do WHICH people want?
As a service user and carer research participant for many
years now, I can appreciate a little of what Sue, Petra and David are
debating here and, such sensible considerations have led to great
improvements in research methods and attitudes in recent years from the
service user participants point of view - enabling much common progress.
However, I cannot help but feel you are also dissipating your energies
further by trying to achieve the opposite. You are members of the community
as vulnerable as the rest of us and it is not so much our uniqueness which
matters, but the greater things we all have in common.
In this, are the answers to what we all really and unifyingly need and,
perhaps, such academic considerations can be over-done and divert us from
the objective?
Mike S
----- Original Message -----
From: Petra Boynton
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, July 06, 2006 5:45 PM
Subject: Re: what do WHICH people want?
Again I agree in part with David, but I think we
also have to be careful not to make too many assumptions about research.
David's account presents research as something led by researchers whose
voices are heard and whose study designs/contacts are priviledged. That is
common practice and may well lead to the 'usual suspects' or dominant groups
being studied or even over researched, as well as work being completed that
isn't necessarily supportive or reflective of communities.
However the study I linked to was developed entirely
within a community by community members. That community does have a very
strong network which could easily inform links to others.
So it would be community members rather than researchers/practitioners who
would be providing introductions and links. Whilst I accept that could lead
to the 'usual suspects' being studied, in this case I'd say it would expand
the range of people being spoken to, and also empowers a community group who
were brave enough to challenge research ideas and suggest they had a voice
and something to say. It would be a shame that our belief that research is
always entirely dominated by academics and researchers might lead to
projects actively organised by communities being excluded or overlooked.
Whilst we rightly should focus on the needs of
communities we are working with, being critical also means focusing on who
is doing the work within research. All too often it's junior female staff
who're set the task of identifying participants, where lots of time is put
in but few contacts are made because the researcher doesn't know the
area/community or is unable without help and introductions to respectfully
and appropriately liase with a community. This does lead to wasted time,
effort and money - which isn't just a problem for researchers, it's a
problem for everyone involved. And it leads to junior staff feeling
disempowered and distressed. So whilst I agree it's a great idea to look
critically at work, if we're not empowering and training our staff to do
this (and most staff aren't given this
opportunity) then we will continue to see research that isn't empowering
anyone.
At 16:56 06/07/2006, you wrote:
I agree with Sue here.
I believe that 'saving time' and
avoiding 'cash' being 'wasted' by identifying 'participants', 'community
leads' and 'existing networks' by going via existing researchers' and of
existing projects often leads to the rounding up of the 'usual suspects'
and the privileging of the same old voices (and silencing of others).
These concerns were not reduced by reading Phyl's post where a 'wide range
of statutory and voluntary bodies' on a steering group are proposed as a
filter / access route for proposed research.. I also note, in terms of whose
interests are paramount, that prioritising the saving time and money is to
privilege the interests of researchers and funders, rather than those of
community members. Moreover, I don't see 'focusing on other projects . . .
as a diversion' so much as a perversion. It is important, in my view, to see
the social world and its problems through the eyes of community members, not
through the eyes of those who make their living studying or providing
services for community members and it is particularly important to privilege
community members' interests in the defining of what is problematic and how
it will be tackled rather than those of service providers and other
researchers.
Admittedly, some communities are
over-researched and their members are at risk of research fatigue, sometimes
research based on secondary sources is good enough and it is pointless to
reinvent the wheel again and again so there are occasionally arguments for
refraining from doing more research and for working with what research has
already been done. However it is, in my view, extremely rare that one comes
across research and projects which are genuinely critical community
psychological in values and assumptions and research based on secondary
analysis of non critical community psychology work is, hopefully, flawed as
far as members of this list are concerned. On the other hand, secondary
research (carried out from a critical community psychology perspective) into
pre-existing research (carried out from a non critical community psychology
perspective) could be of great interest in exposing the role of much
community based research in serving the interests of the powerful or, more
precisely, enacting the micropolitics which accomplish the macropolitical
agenda of the status quo.
David
David Fryer
Community Psychology Group
University of Stirling
FK9 4LA
Scotland
+44 (0) 1786 467650 (tel)
+44 (0) 1786 467641 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: The UK Community Psychology
Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sue
McPherson
Sent: 06 July 2006 12:54 pm
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] what do
WHICH people want?
I find Petra's views a bit problematic,
likewise the comment given by Michelle Lee, about a project she was involved
in, to "empower the Bangladeshi Community to reach their people in an
appropriate manner."
Obviously, there are different levels at
which one can intervene, and while already existing networks can be useful,
there's a difference between using them to identify key members in the
community (see above and below) and seeking out members of the community
who wouldn't otherwise have a voice. Of course talking to community
representatives would be important, but I don't see it "wasting time" to
seek out untapped resources - people living in the community who are not
already biased in their views. Most people are only too glad to volunteer to
talk if notices are put up requesting their assistance. I guess the funding
referred to below can quickly be used up in the time taken (and having to be
paid for) for putting up such notices, making contact, setting up
interviews, and seeking permission from ethics committees), but I imagine
the purpose of the study would indicate which way to go - getting in at
ground level or midway up. and of course, whether divisions between
different cultures will be emphasised or only dealt with when necessary.
Sue McPherson
----- Original Message -----
From: Petra Boynton
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 1:24 PM
Subject: Re: what do WHICH people want?
I agree with David up to a point.
Whilst focusing on other projects could act as a diversion, given the
diverse needs of the community in Tower Hamlets and that existing
researchers have worked effectively and respectfully within that community
networking with them could at least identify ways of effective working and
save time trying to identify participants and key community leads. Whilst
the PCT's funded you cash can often be wasted trying to find people to be
involved in programmes where networks already exist (and you can always step
outside those if you need to).
At 12:43 05/07/2006, you wrote:
Dear Deborah,
If I were you I would not start by
seeing what other researchers have done and, especially, I would not start
by looking for another study done elsewhere which could act as a guide or
template as to what you should do and how you should do it. If you came
across such a study I would put it on one side until you have done your own
work so it does not affect how you work.
I note that in your account the impetus for
the research comes not from the community but from health visitors and
district nurses rather than from residents in Tower Hamlets. In whose
interests is the proposed research being done, really? Who is powerful in
deciding who is studied, what questions are asked etc?
If I were you I would find ways to be useful
in very practical ways to people in Tower hamlets and gradually earn the
right to be trusted. I would find out the questions that people in Tower
Hamlets want answered and I would seek for ways to support them in getting
answers.
In so far as you do read in advance I would
suggest this should be to problemetise the project in which you are engaged:
I would suggest the following reading as priority reading in that regard:
Ian Parker (2005) Qualitative
Psychology: Introducing Radical Research, Buckingham: Open University
Press. isbn: 0-335-21349-9
Linda Tuhiwai Smith (1999) Decolonizing
Methodologies: Research and Indigenous Peoples Zed Books isbn
1856496244
Derek Hook (ed.), with Mkhize, N.
Kiguwa, P. and Collins, A. (section eds) and Burman, E. and Parker, I.
(consulting eds) Critical Psychology2004, Cape Town: UCT Press. isbn:
1-91971-388-3
David
David Fryer
Community Psychology Group
University of Stirling
FK9 4LA
Scotland
+44 (0) 1786 467650 (tel)
+44 (0) 1786 467641 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: The UK Community Psychology
Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Deborah Chinn
Sent: 04 July 2006 10:44 pm
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [COMMUNITYPSYCHUK] what do
people want?
Dear All
We (some PCT psychologists) have got some
funding to find out from people in Tower Hamlets in the East End of London
what they think are the important things that impact on their health and
wellbeing, and conversely, what might get in the way of good physical and
mental health. The starting point for this study were worries from primary
health staff, mainly health visitors and district nurses, that there were
quite a few people who didn't find seem to find health professionals'
current approaches or interventions very helpful.
We are going to have to think carefully about issues of race/culture in the
design and focus of the study, as Tower Hamlets is a very ethnically diverse
borough with 30% of the population identified as Bangladeshi.
Does anyone know of any similar work, or
maybe someone has conducted a similar study? Any ideas or suggestions would
be gratefully received.
Many thanks
Deborah Chinn
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Petra M Boynton, PhD
Lecturer in Health Services Research
Department Primary Care and Population
Sciences, UCL.
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<http://www.psypress.co.uk/boynton>
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--
The University of Stirling is a
university established in Scotland by charter at Stirling, FK9 4LA.
Privileged/Confidential Information may be contained in this message. If you
are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible for delivery
of the message to such person), you may not disclose, copy or deliver this
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Petra M Boynton, PhD
Lecturer in Health Services Research
Department Primary Care and Population Sciences,
UCL.
Open Learning Unit, Archway Campus
4th Floor, Holborn Union Building, Highgate Hill
London, N19 5LW.
Tel: 0207 288 3325 Mob: 07967 212925
The Research Companion Messageboard - share your
experiences and get support here! www.psypress.co.uk/boynton
<http://www.psypress.co.uk/boynton>
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