Introduction
Here are some basic models for implementing a Research and
Evaluation program (or Research and Development program) in an outdoor
education organization. Any one of these can work if well managed,
or some combination of the options below can also be effective.
Know What The Organization Wants and
Values
The hardest part of conducting research is working out what
is to be studied. Literally any facet of an organization, program,
experience can be researched, so its a question of narrowing in and
selecting some areas of focus. The two most common research
questions that interest outdoor education organizations are:
-
Are our outdoor education programs effect in enhancing
personal, social, and/or academic or bottom-line outcomes?
-
What are the most important elements of an outdoor
education program in determine the effects of an outdoor education
program?
Internal Promotion
Train up a promising, interested staff member.
Preferably the person would already have a bachelor's degree in a field
such as psychology or education. If you're organization could
support the person through a one or two year post-graduate research
degree, then they could become a real asset because they know the
organization's needs and can apply their new research skills.
Downsides are potential up-front cost and lack of suitable interest or
potential within the staff.
External Appointment
(Consultancy)
Employ someone who can dedicate time/energy/expertise to
setting up and conducting research and evaluation for the
organization. The strength of this approach is being able to employ
the 'right' person for the job. Downsides are that there are a lack
of suitable candidates at the moment and upfront and ongoing wage
costs. One option is to make a part-time appointment or, my
preference would be to have someone who is 50% in the field and 50%
working on an organization's research and evaluation.
Academic Partnership
Partner your organization with a university or consultant to
conduct research and evaluation. Finding a local university or local
area consultant with these skills is not possible in most areas, so you
may need to expect creating a long-distance relationship, possibly even an
international one. An example is that at the University of New
Hampshire, we partner with outdoor education organizations around the
world and ask them each to sponsor the tuition fees for a graduate
student. In return UNH provides the professional research and
evaluation services for those organizations.
Organizational
Partnership
Form an alliance with other organizations and share both the
costs of benefits of having a common research and evaluation program.
Grants
Seek research or philanthropic grant funding for
establishing a research and evaluation program in your organization.
Students
Establish a list of desired research and development
projects and market these to your local universities for graduate students
to take them on. |