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

[Rod Lambert (rod]

A further two bits.
It may have been inferred but if the research is to be unassailable I think
it would have to make sure that it is not just based on co-relational
studies. That is, if say, a study shows that people are living an average
of 5 years longer in CoHousing one has to be careful of immediately
declaring that the fact that they are living in Coho is the cause. It could
in fact be that people that choose cohousing are closely matched to those
who eat healthy food and that that turns out to be the dominant factor.
Co-relation is not causation.
That's not to say that we can't learn much from such studies. I would be
one who would very interested in the results.

Rod Lambert
EcoVillage at Ithaca, NY.
(Specializing in affordable Cohousing Design)

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*Date: Sun, 29 Mar 2015 07:51:54 -0400 From: RJ Hirsch
<heidinys [at] earthlink.net <heidinys [at] earthlink.net>> To:
cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> Subject: [C-L]_ 
. Re:
Cohousing Benefits Presentation -- any ideas? Message-ID:
<879F4B3B-CE0A-4E9B-8B01-C8BDFE25CCC0 [at] earthlink.net
<879F4B3B-CE0A-4E9B-8B01-C8BDFE25CCC0 [at] earthlink.net>> Content-Type:
text/plain;       charset=us-ascii 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
<http://web.csulb.edu/%7Emsaintg/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.*