Critical Difference Engagement: Toward a Critical Practice Approach to Mobilize Differences in Community Practice

Applying Critical Grounded Theory to Community Intervention Development Methodology: Designing the Critical Difference Engagement Approach

“…Distinct from the practice constructs, approaches, and interventions that came before; CDE also delineates key stage-based categories which include practical skills, key barriers, and emergent transitions to guide practitioners. In this way, the intervention not only provides overarching dimensions to guide practice but outlines key stages in a way that’s goal oriented and direct (Sawyer, 2021). Its core process dimensions guide practice at all levels and stages of the intervention.…”

“…Grounded theory routinely informs intervention development through emphasizing the voices of those most impacted by one or more societal issues (Sawyer, 2021; Emlet et al, 2017; Nunn, 2018). Originating within sociology, grounded theory research develops theory based on views of study participants’ emic (insider) perspectives (Creswell & Poth, 2018; Guba & Lincoln, 1994; Urquhart, 2013).…”

“…Its use needs to be dictated by sets of ground level community conditions (Branom, 2012; Redman-MacLaren & Mills, 2015). All community-based intervention development projects are not suited for CGT driven community intervention development (Sawyer, 2021). The following criteria offer a starting point: (1) community driven problem solving regarding a pervasive community problem or set of problems, (2) the need to develop a theory to explain and guide change activities (if a theory or set of theories exist, then CGT may not be appropriate), (3) address underlying social structures, oppressive systems, and/or transformative changes to institutional and organizational practices, (4) guide the development of a set of activities toward intervention, (5) implement activities without exposing community leaders to great personal risk, and (6) the community must be open and available to the process, or willing to collaborate.…”

“…Depending upon community context, changes to grounded theory methodologies may need to be made to align methods with critical/transformative aims. For example, in the case example, the sampling strategy incorporated maximum variation of power and identity to make attempts to further equalize power among researchers and community members, and the phases of research design, collection, and analysis intentionally incorporated collaboration among key community members and leaders (Sawyer, 2021). In certain stages of the data analysis process, due to feasibility issues, many community members and participants were not able to fully participate.…”

“…Participants hoped it might allow community residents, leaders, and professional practitioners to collaborate more effectively within the existing initiative. It also provided inspiration that their past and current experience in navigating differences in power and historic oppressions might benefit other communities and practitioners (Sawyer, 2021).…”