Difference Between Traditional Research & CER Evaluation
How are traditional research, community-engaged research and evaluation different?
| Different Factors | Traditional Research | Community-Engaged Research | Evaluation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Specific question | Question that has been generated with the community | Specific program |
| Example Question | What percent of the US population is food insecure? | Are there major issues leading to food insecurity in Athens? | How does the fresh fruit and vegetable backpack program increase likelihood of children to make better food choices? |
| Methods & Analysis | Census data; secondary data analysis | Focus groups and surveys for insights from the community | Focus groups, surveys, interviews |
Traditional research attempts to answer a specific question that will add to the overall level of knowledge within a field of study.
Evaluation answers a specific question about how and why a specific program works.