Evidence and methodology
On 2 September 2009, Professor William Trochim from Cornell University presented a guest lecture at FaHCSIA titled 'Evidence and methodology'.
Professor Trochim began by discussing the move to evidence-based practice as one of the most important developments of the past decade in a wide variety of applied fields. His talk explored this development and its relationship to the field of evaluation. During his presentation, he explored a number of questions including:
- Where did this evidence movement come from and why is there so much emphasis on it today?
- What is the relationship among evidence-based practice, practice-driven evidence and research–practice integration?
- What constitutes evidence and how do we know it when we see it?
- What is the 'unit' of evidence and how is evidence stored, retrieved and disseminated?
- How do we determine the quality of evidence?
- What role do methods play in determining quality of evidence?
- What role does evaluation play in generating or creating evidence and in influencing this movement?
- What role should evidence play in influencing evaluation?
- How does the move to an evidence focus influence our thinking about evaluation?
A major theme of this talk was that while there is a need to encourage high-quality research and evaluation for producing evidence, it is dangerous to link quality of evidence to specific methodologies. While some methods, particularly randomised experimental designs, have properties that commend them, there is a significant danger that 'premature experimentation' can undermine the evidence generation endeavour. By examining how biomedicine handles the issue of evidence generation, especially through the use of the multiphased clinical trials model, evaluators can identify approaches that will help assure that methodology is appropriately used in evidence generation models. In addition, evaluation can play a unique role in the evidence-based movement. Professor Trochim suggested that evaluation needs to develop its own evidence base and can learn much from what is happening elsewhere about how to enhance the field of evaluation in the 21st century.
[ top ]
Families on the Fringe—promoting the social inclusion of young families moving to non-metropolitan areas
On 22 September 2009, Professor Karen Healy from the University of Queensland presented a seminar to FaHCSIA staff on the research and key findings of the 'Families on the fringe' study. Representatives from Mission Australia and the Benevolent Society were also present and contributed their insights on the study.
Background
The study was conducted between 2006–2008 in response to evidence suggesting that increasing numbers of young families were relocating to non-metropolitan areas. The aim of the study was to gain an understanding of the experiences and needs of these families as they relocated to non-metropolitan communities.
The study focused on four sites which were selected based on their sociodemographic characteristics and significant population growth from June 2001 to 2006:
- Gosford/Wyong Shire—a regional coastal location, 90 minutes north of Sydney
- Camden—a peri-metropolitan inland community, 70 kilometres south-west of Sydney
- Oakey—an inland rural town, 175 kilometres west of Brisbane
- Gladstone—a coastal mining town, 532 kilometres north of Brisbane.
The study made use of quantitative and qualitative methods, a sociodemographic analysis of population growth in Queensland and NSW between June 2001 to 2006 and an analytical comparison of growth trends and changing levels of disadvantage in the four sites.
In-depth interviews were conducted with 55 service providers and 43 parents of young families who had relocated to one of the four sites in the previous three years. Community forums involving social service agencies, community leaders and parents were also held at each study site.
Key findings
Motivating factors for relocation
The study revealed that young families relocated to non-metropolitan areas for several key reasons—affordable housing, employment, lifestyle and safety.
Housing
Camden, Wyong Shire and Oakey respondents identified access to quality and affordable housing as a motivating factor in their decision to relocate. Oakey respondents uniquely identified speedy access to public housing as a motivating factor.
Employment
Gladstone and Oakey respondents identified employment opportunities as a motivating factor in their decision to relocate. Particularly, Gladstone respondents identified well-paid employment opportunities in the mining industry as a major incentive for relocating.
By contrast, respondents from Wyong Shire and Camden identified a lack of employment opportunities in the local community and the need for them to commute long distances to work in neighbouring metropolitan areas, for example, Sydney.
Lifestyle and safety
Respondents in all four sites identified the perception that non-metropolitan communities offered an improved quality of life and were less affected by crime, as a key motivator for them to relocate.
Wyong Shire and Gladstone respondents perceived living by the ocean as attractive, while Camden and Oakey respondents perceived the country lifestyle as attractive.
Respondents from Camden and Wyong Shire also reported an attraction to having the 'best of both worlds'—a non-metropolitan lifestyle with access to metropolitan employment opportunities—as an incentive to relocate. Uniquely, Camden respondents also reported access to quality education as an incentive to relocate.
Social participation
The social participation of young families in their new communities was of particular interest to the researchers. Participants were invited to rank, on a scale of 1 to 5, their perception of how much they belonged to and participated in the local community. It was of note that the majority of respondents rated their social participation with low scores of three or less.
Camden and Oakey
Camden and Oakey respondents reported the lowest ratings. In Camden, poor social participation was attributed to long-distance commuting and the limitations this imposed on time and opportunities to participate in the community. In Oakey, respondents attributed poor social participation to difficulties in breaking into existing community networks.
Wyong Shire
Responses from Wyong Shire varied. Some respondents reported high rankings of social participation, attributed to participating in local sporting clubs and cultural/social service groups. Other respondents reported low rankings, attributing this to time limitations due to long-distance commuting.
Gladstone
Gladstone respondents clustered their scores around middle rankings, indicating they felt neither part of or apart from the community.
Social exclusion
The study findings indicate that young families who relocate to non-metropolitan areas experience, or are at risk of experiencing, varying degrees of social exclusion.
Dislocation from networks
Social exclusion from the local community was exacerbated for respondents who could maintain family and friendship networks beyond their local community. For example, families who had relocated to Wyong Shire could retain their networks in Sydney.
In Gladstone, where employment was a powerful motivator for relocation and a key facilitator of social participation, family members (particularly parents) not in paid employment experienced particular vulnerability to social isolation.
Similarly, Wyong Shire and Camden respondents (and other family members) not in paid employment were also vulnerable to social isolation. This was exacerbated in instances where a family member commuted substantial distances to work and/or access to a vehicle was restricted.
Interestingly, social networks were a secondary consideration for respondents in all four study sites; though a majority identified having some prior familiarity with the area due to extended family members, acquaintances or friendship networks having prior experience with the areas.
Inadequate transport
Respondents at all sites identified a lack of local transport as a notable barrier to social participation, particularly for families who did not have access to a vehicle.
Long-distance commuting
The study findings highlighted the negative impact long-distance commuting has on family work–life wellbeing and social participation. Respondents at all study sites reported at least one family member commuted substantial distances to work—at times commuting up to four hours a day. This daily loss of time was identified as time consuming and a key cause of fatigue, limiting the capacity of family members to participate in the local community and engage in child-related activities.
High cohesion of local networks
Oakey respondents identified that the existence of strong community networks limited their ability to participate in the local community due to the perception that it was difficult to 'break into' existing community networks.
Community mobility
Gladstone respondents indicated that high-paying, short-term mining employment opportunities provided economic benefits to employed families and facilitated social participation in employment-centred events and networks. However, the centrality of employment in social networks also encouraged apathy and social disengagement among respondents. This was because the mobility of the community discouraged families from establishing networks that were perceived as temporary and likely to end in the near future.
Inadequate service systems
Respondents in all four sites noted that existing medical, dental and community services were inadequate to meet the demands of a growing population. For example, respondents at Wyong Shire noted a shortage of local doctors willing to accept new patients.
Respondents likewise reported they were required to travel long distances to access essential services. Particularly, Gladstone respondents noted the need to travel to Rockhampton to access the services of an obstetrician.
Policy, program and practice directions
The study findings highlight the need for government agencies to recognise the trend that young families are relocating to non-metropolitan communities and the need to minimise their vulnerability to becoming socially excluded.
The researchers identify that policies promoting the social inclusion of young families need to:
- Reduce push factors
The study findings emphasise the need for policies to aim to reduce push factors that cause young families to relocate. Policies addressing housing affordability are identified as key to this, particularly policies that facilitate private housing market participation for low and middle-income families.
- Improve transport and service infrastructure
The researchers noted that the study findings highlight the need for all three tiers of governments to cooperate and support the economic development of local communities, particularly the creation of medium to high income and permanent employment opportunities in non-metropolitan areas.
The findings suggest that quality local public transport, as well as improved roads, are required in growing communities to enable families to easily access local services.
The study findings also indicate that employers need to consider the communities from which they recruit employees and their capacity to provide an adequate range of services for their families. This was particularly discussed in reference to the mining industry in Gladstone and whether companies encouraging young workers to relocate for work opportunities should consider the availability of obstetric and child services available to their employees and families in the local area.
- Build community capacity
The researchers noted several observations on how dislocation from family and friendship networks can negatively impact the wellbeing of families and family members.
It was identified that communities should be assisted in building their capacity to welcome and engage new families. Discussions with respondents indicated that informal support groups, non-stigmatising community-based activities (playgroups, child-focused groups), sporting clubs and community clubs that build community spirit and pride could be effective for this purpose.
The role of teachers and nurses, in terms of outreach and community support, was also discussed, including the need to consider the job descriptions and roles of key people in community as instigators of networks and social inclusion. Likewise, the role of non-government organisations (NGOs) in building community capacity was discussed. Of particular interest, the need for a more conscious focus on 'social inclusion' among NGO worker roles was identified, as was the ability for NGOs to be more holistic in their approach to families and centred on creative and assertive outreach.
[ top ]
Patterns of involvement of people with mental health disorders and cognitive disabilities in the NSW criminal justice system
On 27 October 2009, Dr Eileen Baldry, Associate Professor, University of New South Wales presented a guest lecture titled 'Patterns of involvement of people with mental health disorders and cognitive disabilities in the NSW criminal justice system'. This guest lecture was presented to FaHCSIA staff and guests from other agencies.
In this presentation, Dr Baldry began by discussing the methodology of this project. This project represents an innovative approach to researching complex populations by creating a detailed dataset on the life-long criminal justice and human service involvement for a cohort of offenders using linked but de-identified extant administrative records from criminal justice agencies (NSW Departments of Corrective Services; Juvenile Justice; Police; Justice Health; Courts, and Legal Aid) and human services (NSW Departments of Community Services; Disability, Ageing and Home Care; Housing; and Health). This research is working to trace the trajectories of a cohort of people with mental health disorders and cognitive disabilities to reveal a coherent picture of the multiple factors contributing to the complicated pathways of these people into, through, around and out of the NSW criminal justice system.
Dr Baldry outlined that the aim is to detail the different patterns of involvement of particular groups in the cohort including those with mental health disorders, intellectual disability, borderline intellectual disability and co-morbidity, and by gender and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Dr Baldry discussed the early findings of this research, including providing greater detail regarding the mental health disorders and cognitive disabilities of the cohort, gender, age and type of first involvement, education, numbers and types of cautions, arrests, sentence lengths, incarceration/re-incarceration, use of social housing and use of mental health and disability services. Future aims include a more detailed analysis of smaller subsets of the cohort and to use the findings to identify gaps in policy, protocols and service delivery and areas of improvement for criminal justice system and relevant human service agencies in regard to people with mental health disorders and cognitive disabilities.
Further information:
FaHCSIA: Angela Braniff (Homelessness Branch)
email angela.braniff@fahcsia.gov.au
[ top ]
Understanding transitions in children's living arrangements
On 15 December 2009, Professor Peter D Brandon from the Sociology and Anthropology Department, Carleton College, Minnesota, USA presented a guest lecture for FaHCSIA staff. The title of the guest lecture was: 'Understanding transitions in children's living arrangements'. This research used the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey to examine:
- the characteristics of children, particularly those living with parents/guardians in alternatives to marriage situations
- monitors change and variation of their living arrangements
- compares results from different countries.
The researchers examined the Wave 1 date with a focus on answering initial questions on what the distribution of living arrangements was and what characteristics differentiate the sample of children. After examining the results, additional questions were developed to further examine whether children change living arrangements, which ones they change to and how quickly this occurs. Results and potential policy implications were presented and discussed during this seminar.