Research with African Americans in Post-Katrina New Orleans: Opportunities and Challenges

Background and Purpose

Research in the context of disasters poses many challenges to community members and researchers, particularly when it is conducted with those who have histories of marginalization (Zakour, 2000). Such is the case with African Americans in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina (Picou & Marshall, 2007).

The purpose of this secondary data analysis was to analyze research studies conducted with African American samples in post-Katrina New Orleans. Specifically of concern were the methodological considerations that facilitate research grounded in a social justice perspective that emphasizes sustainable community development, strengths, and empowerment.

Methods

This inquiry is based on the methodological lessons learned from four research studies conducted by the authors with African American samples in post-Katrina New Orleans including: 1) “The Katrina Project” funded by Tulane University in collaboration with the Institute for Family Services in New Jersey. This study captured the evacuation and return narratives of 23 people of color in New Orleans; 2.) “Beyond Courageous Conversations” funded by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies examined issues of race, class, gender, age, religion, and social justice. This qualitative study consisted of 20 focus groups with 180 New Orleans residents (Chaisson, 2007); 3) The “Neighborhood Revitalization Index” funded by Mercy Corps assessed baseline neighborhood data on a variety of indicators including perceptions of safety, housing availability, the environment and social capital. The mixed methods study included a sample of 153 residents of one New Orleans neighborhood (Pyles and Cross, In Revision); and 4) the “Tulane Community Organizing Research Project (T-CORPS)” funded by the Tulane Research Enhancement Fund explored community organizing methods in a qualitative study of 25 community practitioners (Pyles, 2007).

Utilizing methods grounded in the practice of meta-analysis called "synthesizing qualitative studies" through induction and interpretation, as well as researcher reflexivity, we critically analyze the methodological processes of the four studies (Padgett, 2004; Patton, 2002). We review research methods including their social context, study findings, and researcher field notes as data. As we analyze the studies, we draw from social justice theories that emphasize research as empowerment(Denzin & Lincoln, 2000).

Results

The major findings of this study are: 1) the challenge of cultural competency of researchers; 2) the community's role in the development of the research agenda; 3) the extent of impact of study findings on community re-development projects; and 4) opportunities and obstacles of conducting research during the time of community disasters. Research participants expressed concern with researchers who were “mining” the community for data. They saw these researchers as coming into the community and unearthing juicy facts and data that they perceived to be benefiting the researchers more than the community itself.

Conclusions and Implications

Though not generalizable these findings point to the importance of attending to social justice values when conducting research with marginalized populations especially during periods of enhanced vulnerability. The values and practices of Participatory Action Research (PAR) (Greenwood & Levin, 2007) may be a useful guideline for vetting research methods with African Americans in the context of a disaster.