A Method For Articulating Grassroots Community Organizing Outcomes
Journal of Community Psychology
Published online on April 07, 2014
Abstract
Concept mapping (Trochim, ) was used to visually articulate the full range of organizing outcomes from a grassroots community organization (GCO) in a western United States city. Outcomes belong to five general categories: (a) victories, (b) personal development, (c) public leadership skills, (d) organizational relationships with power people, and (e) building an organizational culture of civic engagement. Results from the concept map have been triangulated with other GCO data sources to determine whether the concept map presents a credible representation of the range of outcomes which can be expected from community organizing. Advantages of concept mapping as a method for community‐based research are discussed. Names of places and organizations have been changed to protect the privacy of participants.