Cohousing-L Mailing List: . Re: Cohousing Benefits Presentation -- any ideas?

[RJ Hirsch (heidinys]

Hi,

Two bits about this.
I think what Diane is describing may be considered Qualitative Research.  Here 
is a description copied and pasted from: 
http://web.csulb.edu/~msaintg/ppa696/696quali.htm

 "Qualitative research is aimed at gaining a deep understanding of a specific 
organization or event, rather a than surface description of a large sample of a 
population. It aims to provide an explicit rendering of the structure, order, 
and broad patterns found among a group of participants. It is also called 
ethnomethodology or field research. It generates data about human groups in 
social settings.
    Qualitative research does not introduce treatments or manipulate variables, 
or impose the researcher's operational definitions of variables on the 
participants. Rather, it lets the meaning emerge from the participants. It is 
more flexible in that it can adjust to the setting. Concepts, data collection 
tools, and data collection methods can be adjusted as the research progresses.

    Qualitative research aims to get a better understanding through first hand 
experience, truthful reporting, and quotations of actual conversations. It aims 
to understand how the participants derive meaning from their surroundings, and 
how their meaning influences their behavior.

    Qualitative research uses observation as the data collection method. 
Observation is the selection and recording of behaviors of people in their 
environment. Observation is useful for generating in-depth descriptions of 
organizations or events, for obtaining information that is otherwise 
inaccessible, and for conducting research when other methods are inadequate.

    Observation is used extensively in studies by psychologists, 
anthropologists, sociologists, and program evaluators. Direct observation 
reduces distortion between the observer and what is observed that can be 
produced by an instrument (e.g., questionnaire). It occurs in a natural 
setting, not a laboratory or controlled experiment. The context or background 
of behavior is included in observations of both people and their environment. 
And it can be used with inarticulate subjects, such as children or others 
unwilling to express themselves."

So, you may be readily set with such information.  Look at back issues of the 
CoHo Journal,  etc.  


Also,  I am wondering what is of interest to the seller?  If it is assurance 
that the seller be re-paid,  that may be most important as a focus.
As you mention financial stability,  that may be a place to focus.  And may be 
doable.  How many CoHousing Communities have been built?
How little turnover is there?
How have households supported one another?

When we were in development,  and needed help with our presentations, we had a 
consult with someone who did marketing.
He gave us good advice for presentations in general:  Tell them what you are 
going to tell them (ie,a one, two line preview)
then tell them 
Then tell them what you told them (brief synopsis.)

My preference is to keep is short and simple.  When I facilitate a large group, 
 I gently remind folks that one cannot distinguish between rapt attention and 
the glazed over eyes of boredom.

best wishes,
Ruth
Hirsch
Cantines Island CoHousing, Saugerties, NY in the Beautiful Hudson Valley. 
One building lot available,  and one house will be for sale.
__________________________________________________________
Diane Margolis's presentation at the conference sounds amazing.  The big 
picture stuff can really make a difference -- helping cohousers and potential 
cohousers communicate the benefits to others whose help we need in order to get 
land and financing.

For my imminent challenge is to engender support for the cohousing model or
specifically our cohousing community from a seller who we have never met.
We are seeking a meeting through real estate agents.

I have to present some good metrics and we'll present the offer of course -- 
the main thing.  But we need the seller to be a collaborator with us to get 
this done.

For my part I present the mission/vision and getting the seller on board with 
that because we are going to ask for a carry back and a few other helps.

I would like to present a slide on Wellbeing and Happiness relative to living 
in cohousing or a close community.  I found some stuff on that. That slide or 
bullet shows our motivation for trying to create this lifestyle for ourselves 
and I can follow that theme forward for another slide to connect it with the 
seller's life.  I'm finding some good articles and studies on the internet that 
I can draw a quote or two from.  Community is one of the things that bring joy 
to one's life.

I have to connect that with other things that a seller may find beneficial -- 
like how community creates financial stability.  I haven't googled that yet.

I would like the seller also has to experience some personal connection with 
how the project would benefit him/her.  Maybe include a bullet point about 
altruism, gratitude and compassion contributing to happiness too.
Helping cohousing communities is good for your own happiness.

I found an article about a happiness in aging in place being increased by 
having a close set of friends, independence, exercising, and sharing a glass of 
wine....I'm not kidding.  I believe it.  I think that applies to everyone not 
just for aging in place.

Emilie Parker emilie.v.parker [at] gmail.com 303-317-4558 main 240-350-8533 cell
------------------------------

Date: Sat, 28 Mar 2015 08:54:56 -0500 (CDT)
From: Fred H Olson <fholson [at] cohousing.org>
To: Cohousing-L mailing list <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Cohousing Benefits Presentation -- any ideas?

I agree that it would be very desireable to have research documenting the 
Benefits of Cohousing.  I will be attending half of the Cohousing Research 
Network (CRN) 's day on Networking and Presentation of Works in Progress (see 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TMulZm4rLLn65QnuqOB2axSh2Hplut0kp4kGf_xI6OA/edit
 ) at the cohousing conference the end of May in Durham( see 
http://www.cohousing.org/2015conference )
(The other half day I will attend the Urban Innovation: Durham CohoCase Study.  
There will so much of interest at the conference oneneeds to go with a partner 
(or two) to cover more of it...)

Those of us who think of the world in terms of rationality like andneed 
research but...

There is much evidence that what really influences people is narative,stories, 
conceptual metaphors etc. There may be research results that support this 
contention but I could not find much suitable to reference for this post. See 
George Lakoff's book Don't Think of an Elephant!

So Emilie, whether you come up with all the research you'd like or not, be sure 
to include a good narative about the Benefits of Cohousing and I see no reason 
to voluntarily emphasize the lack of
research.

BTW in terms of research design, do we have enough cohousing to draw valid 
conclusions like Ann was wishing for?

Fred, who thinks dangling pariticiples are useful and ok sometimes :)

--
Fred H. Olson  Minneapolis,MN 55411  USA  Email:        fholson at 
cohousing.org      612-588-9532
My Link Pg: http://fholson.cohousing.org    My org: Communications for Justice 
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