Community-Based Research and Reports

Community-Based Research is a contribution of faculty and student resources of the college to community agencies and organizations.  Hamilton College students may choose to work on independent studies research projects that have implications for local communities.  The Arthur Levitt Center can be a resource for them through oversight or support of their project.  Suggestions are forwarded to students each semester regarding projects they might consider and projects of interest or concern to our community partners.  Students may also approach the Levitt Center with their own ideas for projects.  

Program evaluation is taught as a seminar each Spring by the Associate Director for Community Research for up to 12 students, usually in their Junior or Senior years. Program evaluation is an integral component in the setting of public policy and its implementation, and the course becomes a case study in applied social research at the community level. This course builds on knowledge and skills developed in initial research methods courses and acquaints students with a range of methodologies used to evaluate programs in varied settings. Students use field work to complete program evaluations of need, process, and outcomes in specific populations or programs in community settings. Students produce written reports for community agencies and need to be comfortable with independent work. They work in groups, and their final reports are edited by Professor Owens-Manley for one final comprehensive report to the community. The topics rotate on a three year basis among refugee resettlement, domestic violence, and positive youth development programs. 

In summer 2006, Tamar Nobel '08 worked with the Utica Municipal Housing Authority on the HOPE VI Project in Utica and produced two reports to aid in the evaluation of progress made.  The first was a property value assessment of every building or house that has been built or renovated as a part of the HOPE VI Project.  Tamar collected information from the Utica Board of Realtors and the City of Utica

Program evaluations completed in prior years:

Domestic Violence Services in Oneida County, 2000
Refugee Resettlement at the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, 2001
IPASS: Instructional Program Alternative to School Suspension, 2002
The Journaling Project for Middle School Girls, 2002
Domestic Violence Services in Oneida County, 2003
Hope VI Evaluation -Year 1, 2004
Hope VI Evaluation -Year 2, 2006
Hope VI Evaluation -Year 3, 2006

In addition, the Associate Director for Community Research or faculty members may be principle or co-investigators or participate in research projects that benefit the local community. 

Levitt Sponsored Reports: