TEXTBOOK USED FOR THIS CLASS IS HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAMS: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE, BY FERTMAN, C. I., ALLENSWORTH, D. D., THE SECOND EDITION. READ CHAPTER 1,2 AND 4.Identify a research methodology that can be used in a community needs and asset-based assessment (community survey, key informant interview, focus groups, etc.). Discuss strengths and weaknesses. How would this methodology support your community needs project? Describe how community culture would influence your implementation of the needs assessment.HERE IS A EXAMPLE OF WHAT A STUDENT DID:There are many research methodologies that are used to better understand community needs; one of the most common research methodologies are focus groups. There are weaknesses and strengths to focus groups. According to Leung and Savithiri (2009), focus groups are useful tools that can be used to measure the reaction of customers to your new product, company strategies or idea. One benefit to focus groups includes that focus groups usually provide immediate ideas for the improvement of products or concepts. For instance, if a researcher is trying to identify how students of a specific school feel about contraceptives, holding a focus groups within this community gives clear concise and exact results. In addition, Leung and Savithiri (2009) assert that focus groups provide insights on the current position of your competitors in the mind of the customer, as well as measuring the reaction of customers to a project and or outlooks on the community involved. Disadvantages to focus groups are also present. For instance, compared to individual interviews, focus groups are not as efficient in covering maximum depth on a particular issue (Leung and Savithiri, 2009). This is because often focus groups require many participants to take part in the study. Thus, another disadvantage to focus groups is the setting; this is because many individuals will be too nervous to voice their opinion or thoughts in fear of rejection of opinion from the other participants. They may be hesitant to express their thoughts, especially when their thoughts oppose the views of another participant.Moreover, compared with surveys and questionnaires, focus groups are much more expensive to execute (Leung and Savithiri, 2009). Often in focus group related trials, participants sometimes offer their time for free while others will have to be compensated in cash or gift cards. In addition, it is critical to highlight that moderators can greatly impact the outcome of a focus group discussion. They may, intentionally or inadvertently, inject their personal biases into the participants’ exchange of ideas (Leung and Savithiri, 2009). This places some bias into the results and fails to provide accurate data for the public use. Studies that hold bias are never published because they are identified during the time of peer review.This methodology supports my community needs project because the aim of my project is to identify factors that have increased the number of African American boys affected with a mental health illness. In addition, my project will explore how culturally, and linguistically appropriate resources could make a difference in decreasing these numbers. Through focus groups that consists of African American boys could give more insight as to the health disparities they are facing within their community that prevents them from seeking out mental care.Community culture would influence the implementation of the needs assessment because culture brings forth a community members’ values, physical environment, decision making-practices behavior and attitude (Profit HR, 2015). For instance, specific racial and religious groups are neglectful towards being involved in research practices. Because of this, many of these groups are not studies and are left out of the data. As a result, these individuals are not likely to follow suggested practices and recommendations.References:Leung, F. H., & Savithiri, R. (2009). Spotlight on focus groups. Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien, 55(2), 218–219.Profit HR. (2015). Cultural needs assessment. Retrieved from https://www.nonprofithr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CULTRALNEEDSASSESSMENT-2015.pdf
