Assessment Approaches: Social Indicator, Spatial, and Power Analysis

1. Assessment Approaches: Social Indicator, Spatial, and Power Analysis

2. Social Indicator Analysis allows us to track trends over time

3. In general, what information would you need to be able to interpret these results?

4. Information Needed • From whom was data collected? Was anyone missed? • How was it collected? • What basic assumptions determined how the data was collected (for example, people who stop searching for work are not included in unemployment statistics). • To determine percentages or make sense of frequency data, you need to know the total number of people in that population group. • It also helps to know whether unexpected events or situations determine changes in trends. • Be skeptical of figures. Does the organization collecting the data have a vested interest in presenting numbers that are high or low?

5. Data can be put into charts

6. Time Series Analysis can be used to examine trends over time

7. Spatial Analysis • Mapping community boundaries, physical space, problems, and assets. • Social network analysis (exchange of resources among individuals and groups) • Geographic information systems (uses computer mapping and overlays of various attributes)

8. 4 miles across Census Tract 42.08, Fresno County, California

10. Social Network Analysis • Based on the assumption that people routinely exchange goods and services to get the things that they need. • Also assumes that strong networks are important for maintaining the quality of community life. • It’s important to understand networks in the community in order to recruit social change participants and to conduct outreach to people who need services. • We also assume that most communities contain informal leaders who provide assistance and information to people in the community.

11. We conduct network analysis: • Informally, by conducting informal interviews to locate natural leaders and to find out how people get help. • Formally, by conducting structured interviews with people to find out from whom they get help, give help, and whether these exchanges are reciprocal.

12. Information from these surveys can be put into a map

13. We assess networks using these maps: • Number and density of linkages among members. • Strength of the relationships among members. • Reciprocity in exchanges. • (limited links suggest that our intervention should be to establish new linkages among people – for example a food cooperative or baby sitting exchange – and to strengthen existing networks!)

14. Power Analysis • We use abstract models to try to understand how decisions are made in communities. • The individuals and groups who influence these decisions. • The amount of power currently held by decision makers • Opportunities for those excluded from decision-making to gain power.

15. Decision-making Models • Elitist (small group makes decisions) • Neo-elitist (some groups excluded because of institutional practices) • Pluralist – membership in groups opposing or supporting issues change in relationship to the issue of concern. Many different individuals and groups are involved in decision-making. These groups have varying degrees of power and influence. • Incremental decision-making (compromise among groups, change in small steps; art of muddling through). • Public choice (money buys everything including political power).

16. The decision-making model we choose determines how we view society or a specific community Elite Minions Masses

17. Power in Communities • Primarily elitist or pluralist structures. • We identify power brokers by conducting interviews to identify people associated with issues, using media accounts, tracking linkages on organization and business websites and organization letterheads. We can also examine links between politicians and industries, labor, and other donors by looking at campaign donations.

18. Example of Application of Neo-elitist Model: Voting in U.S. • Not everyone is registered to vote. • Not every registered voter actually votes. • People may need to travel to register or change address & name. (excludes poor and those with disabilities) • Some states require photo I.D. (excludes poor) • Some states exclude former felons from voting (excludes 13% of all African American men) • Polling places are not accessible to people with disabilities.

19. We examine power in communities by looking at: • Demographic make-up. (gender, ethnicity, social class) • Social stratification. • Industry • Who donates money to candidates/organizations. • Friendship or kinship ties. • Business relationships. • Membership in interest groups or associations. • Linkages among interest groups and other organizations. • Interlocking boards or memberships; social and other types of networks. • Overall power resources possessed by individuals and organizations • Political power – who is elected and who actually votes.

20. Two questions:1) Who votes in the Central Valley2) Who holds political and economic power