Intervention in Response to Social Development Situation - Case Study Example

A Report on Intervention in Response to Social Development Situation Introduction Community development is a state achieved when members of a particular community collectively come together to work and generate solutions about problems affecting them. The problems affecting a community are classifiable into various categories including social, economic, and environmental, among many others. However, most of these categories are interrelated. Community development helps the members to have confidence in tackling their problems as groups not individually, Quigley (2011, p. 68). This report covers the issues affecting social development in Corby community and its surrounding. Corby community consists of Lincoln way and kingwood estates. A Corby study carried out on the community aimed at identifying issues affecting the social development. These issues were identifiable using various techniques all discussed critically in the report. However, the main mode of data collection was interviewing. For example, Chelsea an MI client who lives in Lincoln way estate remained interviewed together with other members of the community. Appropriate interventions are also discussed and a justification for their implementation given. Processes of Investigation The assessment of real needs in the Lincoln way and Kingwood community in Corby remained carried out using various investigatory techniques. It is only through needs assessment that a community’s needs are addressed (Brett, 2012, p. 143). The techniques used in Corby case study aimed at identifying problems facing Lincoln way and kingwood community. They also provided facts and data to help in making of correct decisions and acquire feedback on community’s preferences and priorities. From the investigations, the study establishes interventions in response to social development situation in the community. These techniques included, Research and Data Collection This technique involves collecting and assessing information of interest (Israel, 2008, p. 49). It is carried out in an organized manner to enable easy answering of questions in relation to needs assessed. Research helps in testing proposition, evaluate results and establish necessary interventions towards the needs. In Corby case study, use of this technique enabled collection of data about social development issues affecting the community and its environs. From these data, the researchers of the case study made decisions on what is required as a remedy to the need in social development. Structured Surveys Structured surveys in the Corby case study occured in three major ways including telephone, face to face and questionnaires. Through the survey, need gap in social development department in the community was assessed extensively by considering community at large and situation on the ground established (Levine, 2009, p. 65). Objective of the method relates to providing data of statistical importance. Such importance assists in collecting data from a large population within the community. An effective survey requires development of an initial plan based on objectives of the study and applicable approach. Availability of necessary resources was a major concern, for example, the questionnaires. A means of analyzing the data acquired was necessary (Levine (2009, p. 66). However, the technique faced challenges such as people in the community not responding to written surveys thus prompting second mailing and other follow up activities. Consequently, time and money remained wasted due to these challenges. Focus Group Discussions In Corby community case study, guided group discussions helped in the investigation of the social development issues affecting the members. The group consisted of about five to ten members of the community in the presence of a moderator. The role of the moderator is to increase the level of focus and depth of major social development issues to be discussed, Cantle (2011, pp. 45). The major role entrusted on the focus groups was to generate and screen for new ideas. Moreover, the groups identified key issues related to social development to enable auxiliary follow up. Subsequently, effective intervention methods were identified and insights on the necessities and sentiments of the members of the community established. The focus group technique requires formulation of a hypothesis question depending on the matter under investigation. In Corby study, the question was on social development issues affecting the community. From this investigative information, major decisions and interventions were made. However, the technique faced challenges in that the groups fell to peer pressure influence when discussing a sensitive question besides not finalizing difficult decisions (Starzyk, 2009, pp. 835). This role had to remain carried out by skilled personnel or the moderators. Key Informant Interviews One on one interviews with members of the community helped in investigation of social development issues affecting Corby community. Interviewees for example Chelsea, an MI client and other clients within the Corby community were extensively probed using open-ended questions to enable useful data to be gathered. They expressed the issues in their own understanding. The purpose of these interviews was mainly to provide information about the issue or social development in the community. In addition, actual statements about the issue under investigation were also obtainable. Analysis and establishment of interventions to be used in alleviating the situation was then carried out, according to Hunt (2008, pp. 63). The challenge in this technique was the possibility of interviewee bias towards the community and sometimes they did not easily respond to the interviews. Consequently, very little or no information is obtained. Community Forums and Public Hearings Community forums involved gathering of data in a less formal and an open way whereas the hearings involved testimonies from several witnesses (Patil, 2010, p. 175). This technique in the Corby study characterizes a series of meetings to discuss social development issues in the community. This technique gives authentic information due to absence members’ selection for participation. Instead, everyone is involved and there exist no biasness related issues. The technique allows openness and inclusion in discussion through meetings. The information gathered find use for further investigations. The echelon of consciousness among public members also remained raised concerning the social development issue. However, this technique is not usable as a primary data collection because the participants may not be a representative of the community at large. Community Resource Inventories Data collected using community resource inventory technique enabled investigation of service providers in the social development department of Corby community. The technique aims to identify perpetrators. From the technique, data collected involved social development service utilization in the community. The inventories are unbiased, comprehensive, adaptable for regular updates, descriptive and easy to use on multipurpose basis (Levine, 2009, p. 67). Through community resource inventories, Corby study established recommendations and interventions to use in dealing with the issues affecting social development in the community. Findings and Proposed Interventions After investigation of factors affecting social development within Corby community, the research performed a critical analysis of collected information to enable making of decisions on ways of dealing with the issues. The analysis aimed at making sure the information is accurate, ensuring reliability of sources used, identifying the history of these issues in the community and provide a list of interventions to deal with the identified issues (Brett, 2012, p. 67). The social issues refer to concerns that influence and remain opposed by several individuals within a community. The issues can be a source of conflict in opinion between personal moralities and community’s order. They may be specific for a particular community or generally influence the community at large. Below are the issues that affect social development identifiable from Corby community and interventions for establishment. Social Connectedness Social connectedness refers to how people in a certain community come together and interacts, according to Candle (2011, p. 46). In Corby study, lack of social connectivity was a major issue affecting the development of the community. The level of connectedness and interactions among people is determined by considering the following: duration of a relationship; knowing other person’s goals; how frequent they interact; what their level of intimacy is or how close they are; and the level of self-disclosure among the people in the community. Despite each member having a personal social circle, they need to establish social circles with other members of the community to enable its development. The personal acquaintance measure scale was used to quantify the level of social connectedness among people in the community under study. Thus, the social cohesion should remain enhanced in the Corby community since it helps create a social capital and motivate the people to work towards the development of their community. Social Gradient The social gradient refers to the difference that exists between the poor and the rich in a particular geographical location. In Corby study, a very high social gradient was identifiable as the major issue affecting community development. The disparity that exists was so large such that the members of the community lived either in extreme poverty or in lavishness. For people living in poor conditions, most of the resources and commodities necessary for life such basic needs remains limited (Berg, 2011, p. 25). To overcome the issue on social gradient, the Corby community should strive to equilibrate both the rich and poor and promote sharing of available resources.This will promote social development and increase the spirit of community cohesion. The gap should remain narrowed to a manageable level and all the member of the community given an equal opportunity to utilize the resources available to the community, in accordance to the economist statement on the federal minimum wages (2014). Work and Occupations Work or occupation refers to an individual’s usual effort to earn a living. The availability of work and occupation in the Corby community was also a major issue. Most of the people in the community were unemployed consequently leading to low social development. For a community to grow, each member is supposed to play his or her role through investing in work, jobs and occupations, according to Wilkinson (2009, p. 353). The community should strive to increase the level of employment and provide job opportunities to their members in order to ensure everyone plays a role in the overall development of the community (Romer, 2011, p. 457). Income Inequality Income inequality is usually because of an increase in the community’s share received by high-income earners, as suggested by Earsterly (2009, p. 756). Corby community remained affected by income inequality, which further influenced the social development of the community. Income inequality brings about disparity between the high-income earners and the low income earners. The middle-income earners are very few in such a situation. The scenario causes an increase in political pressures, and brings about low trade and trading opportunities. In addition, it adversely affects community social development in that the people live in extreme worlds and the possibility of them interacting for the community’s development is extremely low. The social mobility is decreased and a less work force is produced which cannot provide all the necessities for the development of the community (Berg, 2011, p. 26). Media Propaganda Media can shape how people in a particular community interact with each other. From Corby study, media propaganda was also an issue that adversely affected the community’s development. If the media propagates false and intimidating information, it can cause fights to erupt between members of the community. As a result, the social development of the community remains negatively affected since people cannot coexist in harmony (Victoria, 2010, p. 69). To avoid such issues, the Corby community should ensure that the information provided by the media is authentic and is governable by strict laws and regulations. Environmental Racism The Corby study identified environmental racism as an issue that adversely affects social development of the community. Environmental racism refers to a condition in which the minorities in the community are placed in locations that are environmentally hazardous and degraded, characterized by pollution, toxic waste and decay (Mohai, 2009, p. 410). The low-income earners end up being the minorities. This creates a disparity and enmity between the two groups of citizens thus preventing social cohesion. They can never understand each other or work together harmoniously for the development of the community. The Corby community should eliminate environmental racism by ensuring all the members remains treated equally and given equal opportunities on matters concerning social development of the community. Use of Rich Pictures in Conceptualizing Information gathered Rich pictures are imaginative information through visual analysis about a perceived area. Before engaging in comprehensive research within Corby community, drawing imaginary social issues faced by the community was imperative in comprehensive analysis and interpretation of actual problems affecting them. After drawing imaginative social issues affecting Corby community by each member, we subsequently established factual picture based on the conducted research. Comparison between the two pictures assisted in effective understanding of the inherent social issues affecting Corby community. Comparison of initial rich pictures about social issues affecting Corby community to the inherent findings established within the groups helped in enhancing group discussions. Establishment of pertinent and accurate social issues affecting Corby community evidently indicates group work through use of rich pictures. Appreciation of group members’ different imaginations relating to issues affecting Corby community after discussion of findings showed teamwork. Conclusion The Corby study identified social development issues affecting the community and established fundamental ways of handling them. Upon effective implementation of these interventions, the social interrelation will remain enhanced and the community’s social development reenergized. All the members of the community are encouraged to work in unison for realization of success of their society. Bibliography Berg, A. & Ostray D. (2011) Equality and Efficiency. Finance and Development. 48(3) Retrieved July 13, 2014. Bret, H. 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