social/community profile indicators - The Cultural Systems Analysis

©TonyL.Whitehead.Ifquoted,pleasecite.DonotduplicateordistributewithoutthepermissionofDr.Whiteheadattwhitehe@anth.umd.edu,or703‑620‑0515

CHEC/EICCARSWorkingPapersSeries

SOCIAL/COMMUNITYPROFILEINDICATORS ByTonyL.Whitehead,Ph.D.,MS.Hyg.Professor,DepartmentofAnthropologyDirector,CulturalSystemsAnalysisGroup(CuSAG)UniversityofMarylandCollegeParkAugust20,2005.

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TableofContents

INTRODUCTION 2

1. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFAGEOGRAPHICPROFILE 5

2. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFADEMOGRAPHICPROFILE 6

3. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFANECONOMICPROFILE 6

4. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFANEDUCATIONPROFILE 7

5. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFAHOUSINGANDHUMANECOLOGYPROFILE 7

6. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFAHEALTHPROFILE(INCLUDINGBOTHHEALTHSTATUSANDHEALTHSERVICES) 8

7. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFACRIME,ADJUDICATION,ANDPUBLICSAFETY(CAPS)PROFILE 8

8. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFACOMMUNITY’SPOLITICALANDPOLICYPROFILE 9

9. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFACOMMUNITYHUMANRESOURCES/ASSETS,ORGANIZATIONS,ANDACTIONPROFILE 9

10. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFACOMMUNITY’STECHNOLOGYANDINFRASTRUCTURE,ANDNATURALRESOURCE(TINR)PROFILE 10

11. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFACOMMUNITY’SCOMMUNICATIONANDEXPRESSIVECULTUREPROFILE. 11

12. ACOMMUNITY’SIDEATIONALPROFILE 11

13. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFACOMMUNITY’SMATERIALCULTUREPROFILE 13

14. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFAPLAY,RECREATION,ANDLEISUREPROFILE 13

15. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFACOMMUNITYʹSCULTURALRULESPROFILE 14

16. SOMEGENERALINDICATORSOFACOMMUNITY’SHISTORICALPROFILE 14

GLOSSARY 16

REFERENCESCITED 16

APPENDICESFORRECORDINGCOMMUNITYPROFILEDATA 17APPENDIXI:EICCARSWORKBOOKFORINITIATINGCOMMUNITYPROFILESWITHSTATISTICALDATA 17APPENDIXII:FORMFORRECORDINGPROFILEFIELDNOTES 24

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IntroductionThis workbook is a component of the Ethnographically Informed Community and CulturalAssessmentSystems(theEICCARS),asubsystemoftheCulturalEcologyofHealthandChange(the CEHC, pronounced ʺCheckʺ). The CEHC is a system that I developed to facilitate theplanning, implementation, and evaluation of community based initiatives (CBIs). The CEHCconsistsoffoursubsystems:

1) The Ethnographically Informed Community and Cultural Assessment ResearchSystems(EICCARS)

2) TheCEHCSysteminProjectDesignandImplementationPlan(PDIP).3) TheCEHCProjectImplementationPrograms(PIPs);and4) EthnographicAssessment&EvaluationSystems(EAES)1

The EICCARS is the CEHC subsystem for collecting data to inform the development andimplementation of effective, or culturally and community appropriate, CBIs. The variousmethods used in carrying an EICCARS research effort are: (1) Selecting Social or CommunityProfiles; (2) The Analysis of Pertinent Documents, Archives, Statistical, and other SecondaryData;(3)InstrumentDesignforPrimaryDataCollection;ObservingSituatedSocialSettings;(4)Key Social Settings Expert (SSE) Interviews2; (5) Community Windshield Tours, DescriptiveObservations, and Descriptive Key Community/Culture Expert (KCCEs) Interviews3; (6)Windshield Tours, Focused Observations, and Iterative Ethnographic Interviews; (7) WalkingTours, Focused Observations, and Informal Interviews; (8) (10) Physical Mapping UsingGeographical Informational Systems; (9) Photography, Audio taping, and other Audio‑Visualmethods where possible; (10) Select Observations; Semi‑structured, In‑Depth StructuredInterviews;(11)FocusandOtherGroupsInterviews;(12)SurveyResearch;(13)TheManagementandAnalysisofEICCARSDataSets;and(14)TrainingCommunityMembersinEthnographicallyInformed Community Assessment Research. This Workbook was developed to assist thecommunityassessmentteaminconductingthefirstoftheseEICCARSmethods,SelectingSocialorCommunityProfiles.The development of EICCARS profiles are important because they provide a framework forstoringandorganizingvariousEICCARSdata,regardlessofthemethodsusedincollectingthesedata.Thesocial/communityprofilecategoriesusedintheEICCARSareinformedbytheCulturalSystemsParadigm(CSP);oneofthreeinterrelatedconceptualparadigmsthatinformthevarious

1 See TL. Whitehead, (2002), “Introduction to the Cultural Ecology of Health and Change,” (CEHC Working PaperSeries.CUSAG,CollegePark:TheUniversityofMaryland)forafulldiscussionofthesesubsystems.

2SocialSettings3“Windshieldtours“aresonamedbecauseinurbanareas,theyconsistofridingaroundinacar,orsomeothertypeofvehicle, and through “thewindshield,” getting acquaintedwith the study community’s characteristic and resources.Theresearchersmaycarryoutthisactivitybythemselves,andusetheirpowersofobservationswhileconductingsuchtours, or preferablywith someone familiarwith the study community (a resident, someonewho hasworked in thecommunityforalongperiodoftime),towhominformalinterviewsmaybecarriedout.(ThereareseveralEICCARSInterviewGuidestohelpwiththisprocess).Thesewindshieldtoursareusuallyfollowedby“walkingtours”ofspecificareas that have been selected as a consequence of the windshield tour, or because of a particular interest of theresearcher(s), their sponsors, or the agency interested in having the community assessment research conducted. Thewindshield tourmaynotbenecessary in smaller settings, suchas rural villages, and the researcher(s) go straight to“walkingtours”toserveforthesamepurpose.

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systems of the CEHC4. TheCSP offers nine large analytical categories for analyzing the humancommunities,withanumberofsubcategories(SeeFigures2Aand2BofAppendix2,ParadigmsoftheCulturalEcologyofHealthandChange).Briefly,thesenine

1) TheHumanIndividualasabiological,social,cultural,andcognitivebeing;2) IndividualandNormativeBehavioralPatterns.3) Individual and Shared ʺIdeaʺ or ʺIdeationalʺ Structures (knowledge, beliefs,

attitudinal systems,values, ʺsignificant symbolismsʺ),which frame interpretationsandmeaningsthatunderliebehaviors,includingillnessriskbehavior,aswellasalltheothercategoricalcontentswithintheCSPthatarebrieflypresentedhere.

4) SignificantSocialSystems including: (a)domesticunits (householdsorresidential

compounds);(b)extraresidentialgroupingsanddyads(ethnicgroups,socialnetworksandkinshipsystems,voluntaryassociations/organizations,symmetricaldyadssuchas friends, coworkers or real/and fictive kin dyads, asymmetrical dyad such asemployer‑employee,patron‑client,etc.);(c)thepoliciesandpracticesofinstitutionsandagenciesofthewidercommunity/society;and(d)intersocietalsystemsandinfluences.

5) Expressive Culture, which includes language, art, dance, song, patterned

vocalizations(e.g.,proverbs),dance,andotherculturalformsthathelpspeopletogive meaning to, and communicate their worlds and their experiences in thoseworlds.

6) MaterialCultureincludingvarioushumanmadeobjects,technologies,andartifacts.

7) ThePhysical Environment, inwhich the human group resides and that groupʹs

cultural system provides a successful exploitation of life sustaining elements,protectionagainstelementswhichhavethepotentialofthreateninglife,andfindsways to overcome elements that constrain life sustaining activities. Culturalmeaning which influences behavior, including health risk behavior, might beinfluenced directly or indirectly by environmental elements and/or shared orindividualwaysofinteractingwithenvironmentalelements.Environmentalfactorsmightaffecttheincidenceofdiseaseinotherways.Forexample,intestinalparasitesthat abound in the African environment are suggested by Feldman (1990) to bepossiblecofactorsinthetransmissionofHIV.

8) Real and PerceivedNeeds that human groups and individualmembers nave to

meetinordertoachievephysicalandsocio‑psychologicalfunctioning.SuchneedsarefurthercategorizedintheCSPas:(a)organic(i.e.reproduction,consumptionoffood,water and other energy sources,waste elimination, disease prevention andcure, protection from hazardous climate conditions, and physical space); (b)instrumental (economic,educational/socializing,politicalorpoliticalandlegal,and

4 The other twoparadigms of theCEHCare theCultural SystemsApproach toChange (theCSAC), and theCulturalSystemsApproach to Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (the CSAPPE). See other CEHCWorkingPapersforadescriptionofeach.

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communal); and (c) expressive (cognitive [meaning and orderly world view],affective[socialstatusandacceptance,beinglovedorliked,selfandgroupidentityetc];andcommunicative[needtoexplain,communicate,etc]).

9) Significant Historical Processes and Events that may be biophysical (e.g. floods,

droughts,etc)orsociocultural (coups,wars,neweconomicormarketingsystems,etc.)thateitherinstitutionalizeorsustainaculturalsystem,orapartofthatsystem,orresultinaʺregeneratedʺorsynchronized(new,combined)culturalform.

ThecategoriesoftheCSP,andcategoriesusedbyothersworkingincommunityhealthwereusedtoinformtocreateEICCARSSocial/CommunityProfiles.Thoseare:

1) A GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE (an exact mapping of where that community islocated);

2) A DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE (sex, age, ethnic, and other demographiccharacteristics);

3) An ECONOMIC PROFILE (employment opportunities, types of employment,incomelevels,unemployment,underemployment,etc.);

4) AnEDUCATIONPROFILE(schools,andotherformaleducationalresources,aswellas informalones,adulteducationandliteracylevels,schooldropoutrates,etc);

5) AHOUSINGandHUMANECOLOGYPROFILE(theavailabilityandconditionofhousing,presenceoftrash,litter,andsoon);

6) AHEALTHPROFILE(dataonleadingcausesofmorbidityandmortalitywithinthecommunity,theavailabilityandaccessibilityofhospitals,doctors,andotherhealthproviders,howhealthcarepaidfor,etc.);

7) APOLITICALPROFILE (community leaders, and systemsof selecting leaders,systemsofpublicdecisionmaking,articulationtolargerpoliticalsystem,etc);

8) (8) A CRIME, ADJUDICATION, and PUBLIC SAFETY PROFILE (types andlevels of crime, how crime and conflict addressed, presence of police, fireprotection,andotherformsofpublicsafety);

9) AHUMANRESOURCES/ASSETS,ORGANIZATIONS,andACTIONPROFILE(organizations, agencies groups, and individuals involved in actions to solveproblemsandmeetvarioushumanneeds);

10) ATECHNOLOGY,INFRASTRUCTURE,andNATURALRESOURCEPROFILE(communicationandothertechnology,transportationavailabilityanduse,

11) AnEXPRESSIVECULTUREPROFILE(religion,cosmology,music,art,language,literature,etc);

12) An IDEATIONAL PROFILE (systems of knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, values,cosmology,andreligion).

13) A MATERIAL CULTURE PROFILE (architecture, material development, andotherhumanalterationsinthenaturalenvironmentorvistas);

14) A PLAY, RECREATION and LEISURE PROFILE (ways that communitymembersmeetneedsofplay,recreation,andleisure);

15) ACULTUREREPRODUCTIONPROFILE(waysthatsocialandgrouprulesandroutines are produced and reproduced and integrated within the cognitivestructuresofcommunityresidents).

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16) AHISTORICALPROFILE(abriefdescriptionofthecommunityʹshistory,trendsin the data found in other profiles, and significant historical events andprocesses).

Sixteenprofilesweredevelopedbecauseoftheneedtoestablishmaterialsforcollectingaholisticbody of data about a study community. However, attempting to collect data for all 16 profileswouldtakeaninordinateamountoftimeandgenerateatremendousamountofdata.Assuch,allEICCARSeffortsshouldincludethesefourprofiles(geographic‑‑thecommunity’spreciselocation;demographic—who lives in the community; economic—income and employment levels, andhistory)becausetheyprovidecontextualdataimportanttotheinterpretationofthedatacollectedfor theotherprofiles.However,beyondthese fourprofiles,projectstaff shouldselect theotherprofiles relevant to their specific project. In terms of identifying data for the 16 profiles, thefollowing discussion will provide very general indicators for each profile. In each list ofindicators,thereisthecategoryof“Other?”,whichisaninvitationtoEICCARSresearchersthatfor any specific project they should brainstorm to see if there are other general indicators thatshouldbeconsideredfortheirproject.Alsolistedineachprofileofindicatorsisasuggestionforcollectingdata on these indicators over thepast 50 years so as to suggest trends.However, inmostcases,projectsareonlyinterestedinshortertrendperiods.Insuchcases,theresearchteamshouldincludeonlyatimeperiodoftheirinterests(e.g.,5years,10years).Itshouldalsobenotedthat the indicatorsprovidedhereareverygeneral.However, foraspecificproject, theresearchteamshouldbepreparedtocreatealistofspecificsetofdataindicatorsthatarespecifictotheirproject.Forexample,theindicatorslistedintheHealthProfilearequitegeneral,andwouldnotbesuitableforlet’ssayaprojectthatfocusesonSTDrisksforadolescentfemales.Suchaprojectwouldneedtodevelopindicatorsspecifictotheirprojecttopic.Finally,whileaholisticattemptshouldbemadetoincludeallpossibilities,letitbenotedthatEICCARSworkbooksarepresentedas guides to get the research started and as way of organizing community data. However,researchersandproject staffusing thisworkbookmight feel that the16EICCARSprofiles,andtheirindicators,donotcovertheentirerangeofprojectinterests.Assuch,researchers,orprojectstaff,areencouragedtocreateotherprofilesthattheythinkbetterapproximatetheirprojectinterests.

1. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaGeographicProfile The idea of a geographic profile is to collect data that will provide information on the exactlocation of a community, the particular boundaries surrounding a community, its size,descriptive characteristics, and whether it seems to be rural or urban. In other words, somegeneralindicatorsthatmaybeincludedinaGeographicProfileassuggestedbytheEICCARSarethefollowing:

o The exact location of the residential community; that is data regarding thecommunityʹsborders,suchasrivers,mountainranges,streetnames,orwhatever.

o Thesizeofthecommunityinsquaremiles,kilometersoracreage.o Whetherthecommunityʹsprimaryphysicalfeaturesareruralorurban.o Adescription of the communityʹs natural environment in terms of plant andwild

animallife,rivers,mountains,naturalharbors,theparticulartypesofsoilandearthminerals,andanyothergeographicalfeaturesofenvironmentalsignificance.

o Others?o Anysignificantchangesinanyoftheaboveduringthepast50years.

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2. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaDemographicProfileThe demographic profile provides data on whom the residents of a community are. SomegeneralindicatorsthatmaybeincludedinaGeographicProfileassuggestedbytheEICCARSarethefollowing:

o Thetotalnumberofpeoplelivinginthecommunity.o Thepopulationdensityofthecommunityo Theethnicdistributionofpeoplelivinginthecommunity.o Theagedistributionofpeoplelivinginthecommunitybyethnicity.o Thesexdistributionofpeoplelivinginthecommunitybyethnicity.o The dependency ratios (non‑working children and elderly population to adult

populationcapableofmakingeconomiccontributions)byethnicity.o Thetypeofdomesticandfamilyunits(e.g.singlefamilyhouseholdsversusmultiple

familyunitcompoundsorboth,nuclear,singleparentversusmarriedcouplefamilyhouseholds)byethnicity.

o Thedomesticunitcharacteristicssuchasthelevelofcrowdingmeasuredbypersonsper room, and the sex, age, and dependency ratio of household membership byethnicity.

o Theexistenceofdemographicrelatedproblemsthatexistwithinacommunitywhichneedaddressingbyspecificallytailoredinterventionprograms.


3. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofanEconomicProfileAs we are well aware, the economic status of communities, and nations, has consistently beenfound to be highly correlated with many other social and health problems. Some of the indicatorssuggestedbytheEICCARSinthedevelopmentofacommunityprofilearethefollowing:

o Thetype(s)ofeconomicsystemexistinthecommunity,i.e.,istheprimarysystemamarket and cash system, one in which foraging (hunting and gathering) andgeneralizedreciprocitypredominates,a subsistencebasedsystemofhorticultureorincipientagriculture,orherding/nomadism,oramixedsystemwithdifferentgroupscarryingoutdifferenteconomicpractices.

o If the community has a mixed economic system, are different economic practicescarriedoutbydifferentage,sex,orethnicgroups?

o The types of employment and economic activities available to or pursued bycommunity residents, and whether there are ethnic, sex, or age differences withregards to the availability or pursuit of specific employment or economicopportunities.

o Ifacasheconomypredominates,whataretheratesofemployment,unemploymentandunderemploymentrates,anddothesedifferbyage,sex,orethnicity?

o Thesourcesofemploymentavailable,andwhethertherearepatternsofemployingmembersofspecificethnic,sex,oragegroups.

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o Ifacasheconomypredominates,whatisthecommunity’seconomicstatusintermsofsuchincomeindicators,suchaspercapitaincome,familyand/ordomesticunit(orhousehold)income(e.g.,medianhouseholdincome),povertylevels,percentagesofindividualsanddomesticunitsdependentonsomeformofpublicassistance,andsoon, and are there ethnic, sex, or age differences with regards to these incomeindicators;

o The relationship of the above stated income indicators to the economic status oflargersocialunits,forexample,thelargercommunity,region,ornation

o The kinds of commercial resources (i.e., businesses) that exist in the community,whereresidentsmaypurchaseortradeforitemsthatmeettheirbasicneeds.

� Ifacasheconomypredominates,aretherefinancialresourcesinthecommunity;i.e.,places that community residents may borrow money, receive credit, etc., such asbanks,creditunions,financecompanies,pawnshops,etc.

o Are there specific patternswithin the community, and orwithindomestic units ofproducing,distributingandconsuminggoodsandservices?

o The amount of a community’s resources are committed to such public services asschools,health facilities, recreation, food,clothing,housing,governmentandsoon.Are there differences in the allocation of services that target specific age, sex, orethniccategories?


4. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofanEducationProfile

o What is the formal educational structure and what alternative or complementaryeducationalsystemsexist(e.g.religiouseducation)?

o Whatisthemedianadulteducationalachievementlevelandtheadultliteracylevelofthepopulation?

o Whatbarrierstoeducationalachievementexist?o Others?o Anysignificantchangesinanyoftheaboveduringthepast50years?

5. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaHousingandHumanEcologyProfileSomegeneralindicatorsofaHousingandHumanEcologyProfileassuggestedbytheEICCARSarethoserelatedtotheconditionofhousingandalterationsmadeinthenaturalenvironmentbyhumansettlement.Includedforconsiderationarethefollowing:

o Thetypes,styles,andqualityofthehousingandotherbuildingsinthecommunity.o Thepresenceoftrash,garbageandotherdebris.o Thepresenceofhumanconstructedparks,lakes,andsoon.o Thepresenceofbridges,canalsconnectingnaturalwaterways,dams,tunnels,water

works,toxicdumps,andsoon.o Theremovaloralterationsinforests,rivers,andsoon.o Others?o Anysignificantchangesinanyoftheaboveduringthepast50years.

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CuSAG, as well as many other urban researchers, have found that data in this profile helpstremendouslywithunderstanding theperceptions that residentshave about their communities, theirhomes,andsentimentsofhopeordespair.

6. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaHealthProfile(includingbothHealthStatusandHealthServices)

IncludedamonggeneralindicatorsoftheHealthProfilearethefollowing:

o The health status of the community in terms of adult and child morbidity andmortalityrates, the leadingtypesof illnessessufferedbycommunityresidents,andotherhealthindicators.

o The accessibility of health care in the community, the formal health infrastructure,andthepresenceoftraditionalorʺfolkʺmethodsofhandlingillnessanddisease.

o Whichcommunity residentsusewhich formsofhealthcare,and forwhich typeofillnesses.

o Howmuchofhouseholdandcommunityresourcesareusedonhealthcare,andhowisitallocatedtovariousformsofthehealthcaresystem.

o Howhealthcareispaidforbycommunityresidentsandfamilyorhouseholds.o Thepresenceof technologydesigned to removeordecreasediseasecausingagents

withinthecommunity,suchasthewatertreatmentsystem,systemsforsmogcontrol,communicablediseasecontrolprograms,etc.


7. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaCrime,Adjudication,andPublicSafety(CAPS)Profile

Thecrime,adjudicationandpublicsafetyprofilewouldincludedataon:

o Communitycrimeandincarcerationrates.o Aretheregreaterexamplesofillegalactivities,assaults,conflicts,andotherantisocial

acts, arrests, trials, and punishments among certain ethnic or class groups thanamongothers?

o Presence of police or other crime prevention/fighting entities in study community,andrelationshipofsuchentitieswithcommunityresidents.

o Thepresenceofinfrastructurethatprotectsagainstfire,andotherdisastersthatmaybecreatethreatstoacommunity(e.g.,floods,hurricanes,etc.).

o The structure of the formal legal system and whether there are non‑formal (e.g.throughkinshiporganization)methodsofresolvingconflict?


In considering the development of community interventions or empowerment programs, thesignificanceofcollectingdataforacrime,adjudication,andpublicsafetyprofileisthatsuchdata

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provideinformationonthelevelofcrimes,violence,andotherʺsocialincivilitiesʺthatcanaffectthesenseofsecurityofcommunityresidents,aswellastheproportionsofcommunitymemberswhomaynotbefunctioningasfreepersonswithinthecommunitybecauseofincarceration.Alsoinformationonthe levelofprotectionfromdisasterssuchasfire, floods,etc, is includedinthiscategory.

8. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaCommunity’sPoliticalandPolicyProfileThePoliticalandPolicyProfileorganizesdataoncommunitystructuresandactivitiesrelatedtogroupdecisionmakingandtheimplementationofthosedecisions.Inotherwords,somegeneralindicatorsofacommunity’sprofile,assuggestedbytheEICCARS,includethefollowing:

o Thepresenceofaformalgovernmentalstructure,and/orothergoverningordecisionmakingstructuresexist(e.g.traditionalchiefs).

o Howpoliticalorpublicdecision‑makingisactuallycarriedout.o Thepresenceofinfluentialorpowerfulpersonsorgroupsinthecommunitywhoare

not part of the formal governmental structure, but who seem to have significantinfluenceoncommunitydecisionmaking.

o Howbothbureaucraticandnon‑bureaucraticornon‑formalleadersareselected.o The presence of political parties, and if so what is the nature of party politics,

politicalfactions,votingpatterns,andsoon.o Variouspoliciesthatareputinplaceastheyrelatetovariousindicatorsineachofthe

EICCARSprofiles.o Politicalissuesofgreatestconcerntothecommunity.o The level of articulation or connection of the local residential unit (e.g. the urban

neighborhood),oritsleadershiptolargerpoliticalentities(e.g.thecitygovernment.o Institutional subsystems of the political system with the charge of protecting

members from threats internal or external to its borders (i.e. military, militias,intelligenceagencies,secretpoliceetc.)?Thereissomeoverlapherewiththeroleofthepolice,locatedinthePublicSafetyProfile.However,militariestendtooperateinterms of the security of the nation, and in some places are very important in thedecisionmaking(governing)atthenationallevel.

o Others?o Significantchangesinanyoftheaboveduringthepast50years?

Data in thePolitical andPolicyProfile couldalsoprovidevaluable informationon communitycollaborative and decision making processes which could facilitate the sustainability anddiffusionofthechangesdesiredinanyparticulartypeofinterventionproject.Apoliticalprofilecould also provide important information as to whether certain policy intervention programsmaybepoliticallythreatening,orpoliticallysupported.

9. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaCommunityHumanResources/Assets,Organizations,andActionProfile

o Organizations, groups, agencies, and individuals in communities who have

historically (over the past 50 years) and/or currently attempt to respond to the

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human needs of community residents through programs, organized activities,services,giftsorgrants,orindividualactsofsocialsupport.

o Specific programs, projects and activities that have been undertaken suchorganizations,groups,agenciesorindividualsoverthepast10years

o Others?o Specific actions undertaken by such organizations, groups, agencies or individuals

overthepast50years.Theseparticular indicatorsmaybeprojectspecific.Forexample, ifaproject isbeingdevelopedtoaddressproblemsofobesity,andsuchoutcomesashighratesofdiabetesandhypertension,thenonewouldsearchfororganizations,agencies,andprojectsthathavetriedtoaddresstheseproblems.

10. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaCommunity’sTechnologyandInfrastructure,andNaturalResource(TINR)Profile

A community’s TINR Profile represents those material culture (technology) components of aculturalsystem,andtheenvironmentalaspectsof thehumanecologysystem,suggestedbytheCSP,andrespondstomanyofthehumanneedsthatarealsooutlinedintheCSP.Somegeneralindicators of the TINR Profile that might be considered in conducting an EICCARS are thefollowing:

o Thepresenceofnaturalresourcesandthedegreetowhichtheseresourcesareusedbycommunityresidents;

o Thepresenceoftechnologythatcouldbenefitthecommunity,andthedegreetowhichthecommunityhasaccesstosuchresources;

o The types of transportation (private and public) that are available to communityresidents;

o Thetypesoftransportationmostfrequentlyused:o Transportation routes in andout of the community, thoseusedmost frequently to

getresourcesgetintothecommunity.Forexample,theabsenceoffoodstoreswithinacommunity,alongwithalowlevelofprivateaswellaspublictransportationcouldmean that an inordinate amount of family/household resources could be used insecuringfood.

o Thevariousways that informationgets intoandoutof thecommunity (e.g.,postalservices, telephone,radio,television,horseback,marketgatherings,churchservices,etc.)

o The preferred or most frequently used sources of communication, differentialaccessibilitytosourcesofcommunication;

o Whattypesofinformationalcontentismostpopularinthecommunity;o Thespeedwithwhichnewinformationgetstothecommunity;o Others?o Anysignificantchangesinanyoftheaboveduringthepast50years.

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11. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaCommunity’sCommunicationandExpressiveCultureProfile.

One of the most important needs discussed in the CSP is the expressive human need forcommunication.Beingabletocommunicatefacilitatessocialliving,andthusmakesthecreationifculturepossible,andthusthesurvivaladvantagethathumanshaveovermanyotherorganicforms,Theabilitytocommunicatemakesitpossibleforhumanstointerprettheirworlds,theirexperiencesintheirworlds,andtopassonthoseinterpretations.InthediscussionoftheTINRProfileabove,thefinal four general indicators refer to communication technology. In the Communication andExpressiveCultureProfile,wewilloutlinehuman’sprimarymodeofcommunication,inparticularlanguage, as well as other forms of expressive culture. Included here aremusic, art, includingvocalizations(e.g.,proverbs,wordgames,etc.), literature,architecture,dance,andotherartisticrepresentations through which meaning is communicated. The relevance of expressive culturebeyondlanguage(e.g.,music,dance,proverbs,theater)asvehiclesofhealthpromotionmessagesarefrequently adopted by those implementing these in a number of the so‑called less developedcountriesofAfrica,Asia,andSouthandCentralAmerica,andwiththeAIDSepidemic,intheso‑calleddevelopednationsoftheworldaswell.Assuch,includedamongourExpressiveCultureProfile,weincludesuchindicatorsas:

o How many languages are spoken in the social unit of study (e.g., neighborhood,community,orsociety)?

o Howmany dialects of the various languages are spoken in the social unit of study,whichmayimpedecommunicationsbetweenthedifferentgroupsinthesocialunit?

o Patternsoflanguagechangeovertime.o The analysis of other forms of expressive culturemusic, art, including vocalizations

(e.g., proverbs, word games, etc.), literature, architecture, dance, and other artisticrepresentationsthroughwhichmeaningiscommunicated.

o Othersignificantsymbolisms thatcommunicateaspectsofahumangroup’sworldorrealitysystems.

o The adoption of external forms of expressive culture over time, and their impact onindigenousculture.

12. ACommunity’sIdeationalProfile

According to the CSP, a human community’s ideational system consists of those individual andsharedʺideasʺorwhataregenerallyreferredtoasknowledge,beliefs,attitudinalsystems,values,andother cognitive structureswhich frame interpretationsandmeanings thatunderliebehaviors,includingillnessriskbehavior,aswellasalltheothercategoricalcontentsuggestedbytheCSP5.Assuch, these components of the ideational systems are critical to the development of successfulcommunityinterventionprojects,becauseassourcesofinterpretationandmeaning,thosedesigningprograms can not expect that what their intervention messages and procedures mean to themnecessary mean the same to those being targeted by their project; or that they have the same

5Itisthiscapacityofideasystemstomotivatespecificbehavioralpatternsandprovidemeaningtoeveryothercomponentofagroup’sculturalecology,thatformoststudentsofculture,apeopleʹsideasystemistheirculturalsystem.IntheCSP,theideasystemisanimportantpartoftheculturalsystem;butsoarenormativebehaviorpatternsandsocialsystemsthatareinstitutionalizedbytheculturalgroup.

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meanings for all of those in the communities being targeted by the intervention. In addition toprojectrelatedknowledge,attitudes,beliefs,andvalues,intheCSPwealsoincludecosmological6andreligioussystemsbecausethesesystemsareoftentimesimportantsourcesofideations,inparticularbeliefsandvalues.Assuch,ideationalindicatorsincludethefollowing:

o Knowledge,inparticularknowledgethatmayinfluencehowcommunityresidentsdealwith threats to their well being, or that could inform the development andimplementationofaplanned intervention. Inconductinganknowledgeassessment,wewanttoknownotonlythelevelofknowledgerelatedtothecontentofaproject’smessages forpreventionor change,butalsoany indigenousknowledge related toanintervention’s targeted health or social problem, including indigenous knowledge ofcause, effects, and treatment of some illness condition,7 some estimation of potentialconflictsorcompatibilitybetweentheproject’spreventionorinterventionmessageandindigenousknowledge,whichcangreatlyaffectthesuccessofanintervention.

o Attitudes,BeliefsandValues.Therehaslongbeenanotioninprevention/interventionresearch that health risk attitudes underlie risk behaviors. Thus documenting suchattitudeshas longbeenapart of the communityhealthor social assessment researchtradition. Unfortunately,however,inmostresearchusedtoinformcommunitybasedinitiatives, attitudes, beliefs and values are usually grouped together and simplyreferredtoasattitudes.However,theprojectdirectorhashadnumerousethnographicexperiences that continually reconfirm his conviction that conceptual differentiationbetween attitudes, beliefs and valuesmust bemaintained. His first experience camewhiledoingethnographicfieldworkinJamaicaduringthemid1970s.During15monthsofethnographicfieldwork,hefoundthatanumberoflowerincomemaleswhovoicedthepopularheldpoliticalsentiment(attitude)thatfamilyplanningwasagenocidalplot,actually did not believe it, and in fact, some highly valued using some form of birthcontrol. It led theprojectdirector to conclude that in the investigationof systemsofideas to inform community based interventions,we need to conceptually distinguishbetween attitudes, beliefs and values. Such conceptual differentiation, he believes isimportant because health risk attitudes, defined here as more surface level ideas orsentiments,maybeeasiertochangethanmoredeeplyentrenchedbeliefsandvalues.

o The ideational or meaning systems of community residents that allow them toexplainboththephenomenaexperiencedintheirphysicalworld,andphenomenaofamoremetaphysicalnature.

o Theleadingformalandinformalreligiousandotherritualizedpracticesandbeliefswithin a community that produces and reproduces their ideational models forexplaining physical and metaphysical phenomena, and to the human need for ameaningful and orderly view of theworld, oneʹs place in it, and any relationshipbetweenselfandsomesupernaturalbeing(God,Allah,orwhatever).

o Theinstitutionalizedstructures(e.g.churches,mosques,etc.)organizedforritualizedpracticesandbeliefswithinacommunity.

6Cosmologyisapeople’sviewofthenatureoftheuniverse,andoftentimes,one’splace,ortheplaceofone’speopleintheuniverse.Inmuchoftheworld,apeople’scosmologicalsystemsareencapsulateintheirreligionorsomewidelysharedphilosophicalsystem.Religionalsoincludesviewsofmorality,ethics,andrulesofbehaviorinrelationshiptosomesupremebeing,aswellasinrelationshipsbetweenmortals.playsalargeroleincosmologicalbeliefs.Oneofthestrongestcosmologicalsystem

7ThesearethecomponentsofHealthExplanatoryModelsthathavebeendiscussedingreatdetailbyKleinman(1980)andothers.

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13. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaCommunity’sMaterialCultureProfileFollowingtheCSP,includedamongacommunity’smaterialcultureprofileindicatorsare:

o Various tools,utensils, instruments,andother technologies that facilitateeconomic,consumption,expressive,andanyothertypeofbehaviors

o Architectureandotherhumanalterationsinthenaturalenvironmentorvistaso Othertypesofmaterialculture?o Anysignificantchangesinanyoftheaboveduringthepast50years.

14. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaPlay,Recreation,andLeisureProfileIn the dozen or so research projects that CuSAGhas carried out in the Baltimore‑Washingtonurban corridor, adult (35yearsorolder) studyparticipantshave continually talkedabouthowtheirweremorerecreationalactivitiesforyouthwhentheywerechildrenthantherearenow.Itis widely known among researchers as well as the general U.S. populace, that the lack ofopportunitiesforrecreationandleisure,similartoopportunitiesforworkoremployment,couldcontribute to problems for the energetic youth of communities, as they find themselves withmuchidletimeontheirhands.Thisisparticularlytruewherelowlevelsofrecreationalresourcesexistalongsidehighschooldropoutratesand lowlevelsof labor forceparticipationandhighlevelsofunemploymentandunderemployment.Opportunities forplay, recreation, and leisurealso facilitate the socialization of children into functioning members of their community aspatterns of play, recreation and leisure are carried out in social contexts and provideopportunitiesforthereconfirmationofidealpatternsofsocial interactionandsocialpatternsasculturalrules.Outlets for play, recreation, and leisure are also important for young adults in both same andopposite sex adults, and for older adults engaged inmeeting the basic human needs of socialinteraction and communion. Data on organized recreation and leisure activities might alsoprovide opportunities for the development of community intervention or empowermentprograms with enhanced capacities for sustainability and diffusion of desired programoutcomesbecause theyare integrated into thestructuresof recreationand leisurewithin thetargetcommunityʹsculture. As such, some of the general indicators of the play, recreationandleisureprofileofacommunityassuggestedbytheEICCARSare:

o Therangeofwaysthatpeoplewithinacommunityʺrelaxʺorʺenjoythemselvesʺ,ortheleadingformsofrecreationandʺleisureʺtimeactivitiessuchasenjoyingsportsormusicalevents.

o How,where,andwhensuchactivitiesarecarriedout,andwhoaretheparticipantsinvolvedinsuchactivities?

o Community structures and planned activities for meeting play, recreation, andleisureneeds.

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o Patterns of play among the children within a community (which frequently haveformalorinformalrulesthatcontributetotheirsocializationintorolesthatadultsinthecommunityplay).

o Other?o Anysignificantchangesinanyoftheaboveduringthepast50years.

15. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaCommunityʹsCulturalRulesProfileThedataintheCulturalRulesProfileusuallyoverlapswithmuchofthatintheotherprofiles,ascultureistheframeworkwhichintegratestheothercomponentsofsociallivingsothatthereisasense of familiarity, predictability, order, and regularity which makes harmonious social livingamongcommunityresidentspossible.IntheCulturalProfileoftheEICCARS,thefocusisontherules and routines of cultural systems that promote familiarity, predictability, order, andregularity.

o Therulesandroutinesthatappeartoexistwithregardstothebehavior, ideas,andsocialstructuresthatexistwithinacommunity.

o Whatculturalrulesandroutinesarenormativelyfollowedthroughtacitpractice,andwhat rules are supported through institutions such as religious systems, legalsystems,etc?

o How are these rules and routines reproduced within a community (e.g., throughpatterns of social feedback, legal and religious systems, rituals, ceremonies,celebrations,andexpressiveculture)?

o Howarethedifferentcomponentsofacommunityʹsculturalrulesintegratedintothecognitivestructuresofthatcommunity?

o OtherindicatorsrelatedtoCulturalRules?o Have therebeenpatternsof change inpatternsofnormative culturalpatternsover

thepast50years?

16. SomeGeneralIndicatorsofaCommunity’sHistoricalProfileThetrenddatacollectedineachoftheprecedingprofilescanallbeincludedaspartofthehistoricalprofile (e.g., patterns over the last 10 or 50 years). Establishing other indicators of the historicalprofileisinformedbytheCSP,andmayincludethefollowing.

o Thehistoryofacommunityintermsofitspatternsofhumansettlement,itsmaterialand expressive productions, particularly those considered to be of historicalsignificance, and its demographic, ecological, economic, andpolitical patterns overtime.

o Historicalprocesses andevents that appear to have occurredwithin a communityandseemtohavesocio‑culturalsignificanceforthecommunityanditspeople;

o Historicalprocesses andevents thatmightprovide insight intohowspecific socio‑cultural patterns and/or problems emerged within a community, and why suchpatternsand/orproblemshavepersisted.

o Communityactions thathavebeenadopted in thepastwithregards tocommunityʺfeltʺ(asdefinedbycommunityresidents)problemareas,whatweretheoutcomesof

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such actions, andwhat seemed to be factors that influenced the outcomes of pasthuman problem solving activities. (Overlaps with data found for the HumanResourcesProfile).

o Others?

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Glossary

ACF AdditionalCommentForms

CAR CommunityAssessmentResearch

CBI CommunityBasedInitiative

CEHC CulturalEcologyofHealthandChange

CSP CulturalSystemsParadigm

CSPI TheCEHCSysteminProjectImplementation

CuSAG CulturalSystemsAnalysisGroup

ReferencesCited

Kleinman,A.,(1980)PatientsandHealersintheContextofCulture:AnExplorationoftheBorderlandBetweenAnthropology,Medicine,andPsychiatry.Berkeley,CA:UniversityofCaliforniaPress.

Whitehead, T.L., (2002), “Introduction to the Cultural Ecology of Health and Change,”CEHCWorkingPaperSeries.CuSAG,CollegePark:TheUniversityofMaryland.

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APPENDICESFORRECORDINGCOMMUNITYPROFILEDATA

APPENDIXI:EICCARSWorkbookforInitiatingCommunityProfileswithStatisticalData

Background:ThisworkbookisacomponentoftheEthnographicallyInformedCommunityandCulturalAssessmentResearchSystem(EICCARS).Itisusedprimarilyforrecordingandstoringstatistical and other secondary data. The EICCARS process usually startswith the collection,storage and analysis of suchdata, particularly census and other statistical data. TheEICCARSProgramTechnicalManual(PTM),“CommunityProfilesandGeneralProfileIndicators”isusedas a reference in the employment of theworksheets providedhere. In that PTM, there are 16community profiles listed in the EICCARS, several of which are dependent primarily, orpredominantly,onstatisticalorothersecondarydata,includingthedemographic,theeconomic,the educational, history, housing and human ecology, health, crime and public safety, andtechnologyandinfrastructural.Thefirstfourofthese(demographic,economic,andeducational,and history) are considered as contextual profiles, which means that while one of the otherprofiles may be the focus of a particular EICCARS, the data on this focus profile should beplacedinthecontextof thatcommunity’sdemographic,economic,andeducational trends,anditssignificanthistoricaleventsandprocesses.ThuswhileanEICCARSmayfocusonanotheroftheprofiles,datashouldbealsocollectedandanalyzedforthesecontextualprofiles.SourcesofStatisticalandSecondaryDatatoberecordedinthisWorkbook.Thereareseveralsources for statistical and secondarydata. First the research teams should search forwebsitesthat might have data relevant to the particular profiles and profile indicators in a specificEICCARSeffort.Thesewouldincludewebsitesofthenationalcensusbureau,otherfederalandlocal governments and agencies, and various federal and local organizations interested in thetopicsincludedintheprofilesofinterest. Beyondthecensusbureau,thesemightincludestateand local planning offices, health care delivery systems, housing bureaus, police and judicialsystems.Alsotobeconsideredareotherprivateorganizations(e.g.FoundationssuchasAnnieE.Casey in the Baltimore, D.C. area), commercial organizations selling such data, and advocacygroups interested in the issuesofconcern toaspecificEICCARS. Theresearch teammay thenlook for publications or other print products offered by these agencies and organizations, inwhichdataofinterestiscompiledanddistributed.Inadditiontostatisticaldata,othersecondarydatacollectedatthelocallevelthatmighthelpincreatingthecontextualpictureofrelevancetoaspecificcommunityincludethefollowing:

1. anyprintdocumentswithscholarlyandpopular(includingmedia)publicationsand

products;2. variousadministrativesourcesofdata foundat thestateand local levels (e.g.,data

collectedbyotheradministrativedatasourcessuchascityandtownhallledgers,citybudgets,salesrecords);

3. recordsanddatacollectedbybusiness,educational,health,socialservices,laborandprofessional associations, and other entities that collect data for their particularmissions;

4. data collected in various types of directories, including telephone, local business

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directories,specialethnicpublications;5. archivalrecordssuchasmaps,atlases,abstractsoftitles,andtitledeeds;6. localpoliticalandjudicialrecords;and7. personaldiaries, familyhistories,biographiesandautobiographies, church records,

tombstones,etc.Description and Use of Workbook’s Worksheets: The sheets in this workbook are used tocollect data for the two primary analytical areas of interest in the EICCARS: (1) ComparativeData;and(2)TrendData.Withregardstocomparativedata,intheEICCARSwecollectdatathatwill allow us to compare the community targeted by the EICCARS to: (1) larger geographicalunits or administrative divisions ofwhich it is a part (e.g., nation, state, county, etc.); and (2)comparablegeographicalunitsoradministrativedivisionsinthetargetcommunity’sregion(e.g.,Washington,D.C.comparedwithMontgomeryCounty,Maryland,FairfaxCounty,Virginia,etc).Withoutmacro‑societalandproximalanalysesthecommunitydatamighthavelessmeaningtosomeonereadingtheEICCARSreport.DependentonthesizeofthecommunitytargetedbyanEICCARS,asecondlevelofcomparativedatamaybecollectedandanalyzed,andthatisatthesubunitlevel.Forexample,iftheentirecityofWashington,D.C.isthetargetedcommunityforthe EICCARS, then one may want to collect comparative statistical data, on the eight wards,particularly with regards to such important contextual profiles as the demographics andeconomics,aswellaseducational,housingandhumanecology,crimeadjudication,andpublicservice,health,andtechnologyandinfrastructure.IfoneofthewardsisthetargetcommunityofanEICCARScarriedoutinWashington,D.C.,thentheteammightdecidethatcomparativedataonthevariousneighborhoodsinthatwardareofinterest.Tofacilitatethecollectionandstorageofcomparativestatisticaldata,thisworkbookconsistsoffourworksheets.Worksheetonecollectsdata formacro‑societal comparisonssuchasnational, state, county, citydata,and/ordata foratargetcommunitysmallerthanthecity.TheSecondWorksheetallowsforthecollectionofdatamorerelevanttoacity,anditssubunitsorsubdivisions. An example here again is Washington, D.C., in which the EICCARS may betargetinganyofthewards,anddataarealsocollected,storedandanalyzedwithregardstotheother wards (or subdivisions). The third worksheet is to facilitate comparisons betweengeographicunitswithinsubunitsofthetargetcommunitythatarelargerthantheneighborhood.Thefourthworksheetistofacilitatecomparisonsofneighborhoods,whicharesometimesdefinedbyresidentsofthoseneighborhoods.With regard to trend data, each of the worksheets have several columns to reflect trends orchangesinthedatacollectedforthevariousprofileindicators.Thefirstcolumnrecordsdataforthedaterepresentinghowfarbacktheresearchteamwantstoshowtrends.Theothercolumnsareusetorecorddataforsubsequentperiodsforwhichtheteamwantstoobservetrends,withthelastcolumnusedforrecordingthepresentorfinaldateforsuchdata.TheresearchteamhastodecideonhowmanyofthesecolumnswillbeusedintheirownEICCARS.At the top of each of these worksheets there are identifying data to be provided. Thus inWorksheet1,thenameofthetargetSite,thespecificprofile,thespecificindicator,andthemodelof analysis (Rates Per___, percentages, etc). The importance of this information that for eachprofile indicator,anotherworksheetwillbeused,and thusmultiplesheetshave tousedforrecordingthedataforeachprofileindicator.AtthetopofWorksheets2‑4,thesameidentifiersareusedthatareusedinWorksheet1,butaddedhereareidentifiersforthecensustractsandthe

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census blocks (if suchdata are available). Entering the identifiers on these sheet are necessarybecause for each census tract, or census block, whichever is most relevant, will require adifferentsheet,andeveryprofiledataindicatorforeachspecificcensustractorcensusblockwillrequiremultiplecopiesofthesesheets.

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Worksheet 1: Macro-societal Comparisons and Trends Name of the Target Site______________________________ The Specific Profile______________________________

Profile Indicator_________________________________ Mode of Analysis ___________________

Geographical Units

Beginning Date

2nd Date

3rd Date

4th Date _

5th Date

Last Date

National

State (If Relevant)

County (If Relevant)

City (If Relevant)

Target Site (If Relevant

Additional Comments (Use back of worksheet if necessary).

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Worksheet 2. City Subdivisions. (Consider only if relevant). Copy and use asmanysheetsasnecessary.Name of TargetSite________________________________Specific CommunityProfile___________________________ProfileIndicator________________________________ModeofAnalysis________________________

Target Site Census Tracts____________________________Target Site CensusBlocks______________________________________________________________________

GeographicalUnits

BeginningDate

2ndDate

3rdDate 4thDate 5thDate

LastDate

Name of TargetCommunity

Name of CitySubdivision





AdditionalComments

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Worksheet3:FieldSiteSubcommunities. (Consideronlyif relevant).Copyanduseasmanysheetsasnecessary.Name of TargetSite________________________________CommunityProfile_______________________________ProfileIndicator_______________________________ModeofAnalysis_______________________

Target Site CensusTracts____________________________Target Site CensusBlocks_____________________________________________________________________

GeographicalUnits

BeginningDate

2ndDate


LastDate

TargetSite

Name ofSubcommunity

Name ofSubcommunity

Name ofSubcommunity

Name ofSubcommunity

Name ofSubcommunity

AdditionalComments.

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Worksheet4.FieldSiteNeighborhoods.(Onlyifrelevant).Copyanduseasmanysheetsasnecessary.Name of FieldSite________________________________CommunityProfile_______________________________ProfileIndicator__________________________________ModeofAnalysis_______________________

Target Site CensusTracts____________________________Target Site CensusBlocks_____________________________________________________________________

GeographicalUnits

BeginningDate

2ndDate


LastDate

TargetSite

Name ofSubcommunity

Name ofNeighborhood

Name ofNeighborhood

Name ofNeighborhood

Name ofNeighborhood

AdditionalComments.

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APPENDIXII:FormforRecordingProfileFieldnotesThisAppendixisasimpleformforprovidingasimpleformforrecordinginformationonanyoftheprofiles.It issuggestedthattheresearchteammakemultiplecopiesofthisform,andplacethemintobinders,oneforeachresearchteammember.Theformsimplyasksfor:(1)ProjectTitle;(2)TheNameoftheRecorder;(3)Theparticularprofilenameforwhichspecificdataarecollected;(4)Thenameor the society or community; and (5) thenameof the sub‑society or sub‑community. Thisinformationshouldberecordedeach timeamemberof the teamcollectsprimary fielddata.Theremainderoftheformissimplyablankpageforrecordingwhatevernotestheresearcherwantstorecord.ProjectTitle:_________________________Recorder’sName:___________________________Profile:_________________________________

Date_______StudyCommunity________________Sub‑Community___________________________