title: What happened to educational criticism? Engaging with a paradigm for observation

authors: Locke, Terry

subjects: educational research

abstract: In The Educational Imagination, Elliot Eisner presents a theory of educational criticism and a form of qualitative research in education. Central to his theory is the notion of the connoisseur, a particular kind of observer who, on the basis of certain qualities, can be trusted to write an incisive and illuminating account of an educational setting. The theory is illustrated by a range of examples of educational criticism in practice. This paper reflects on the author's attempt to apply educational criticism in a self-reflexive way in the context of a Teaching and Learning Research Initiative project on teaching literature in the multicultural classroom. A number of questions are raised about observation as a data collection instrument, the ethics of observation and reporting, and ways in which a commitment to dialogue can impact on the textual products of criticism. If the observed teacher is an artist, what might they want to say to the connoisseur observer and how might this talking back affect the criticism itself?

text: What happened to educational criticism? Engaging with a paradigm for observation In The Educational Imagination, Elliot Eisner presents a theory of educational criticism and a form of qualitative research in education. Central to his theory is the notion of the connoisseur, a particular kind of observer who, on the basis of certain qualities, can be trusted to write an incisive and illuminating account of an educational setting. The theory is illustrated by a range of examples of educational criticism in practice. This paper reflects on the author's attempt to apply educational criticism in a self-reflexive way in the context of a Teaching and Learning Research Initiative project on teaching literature in the multicultural classroom. A number of questions are raised about observation as a data collection instrument, the ethics of observation and reporting, and ways in which a commitment to dialogue can impact on the textual products of criticism. If the observed teacher is an artist, what might they want to say to the connoisseur observer and how might this talking back affect the criticism itself?

year: 2009

title: Individualism and the public good: a case study in childhood immunisation

authors: Gower, Suzanne Elizabeth

abstract: The election of the Fourth Labour Government in July 1984 marked a turning point in New Zealand’s political economic history, ushering in the rise of the individualism which was fundamental to the prevailing philosophy of neo-liberal rationalism. In addition, however, to the widely recognised individualism in the political economy there was also a rising attitude of individualism within New Zealand's civil society. 

This thesis examines the development of New Zealand’s childhood immunisation policy, the National Immunisation Strategy, as a case study in determining the impact both neo-liberal and civil individualism had on the development of a policy with implications for the public good.
 
The thesis describes the public policy environment m which the National Immunisation Strategy was developed, examining the changes individualism wrought in both New Zealand’s political economy and in civil society. It traces the impact this had in turn on health sector reform, and later on the development of National Immunisation Strategy. 
The research uses qualitative methods in the examination of the policy-making process. It examines the literature surrounding childhood immunisation policy in New Zealand, key documents related to the policy-making process and findings of interviews with key informants involved in the policy-making process variously as officials, expert participants, and interested observers. 

The thesis concludes that both neo-liberal and civil individualism had a role in shaping not just the National Immunisation Strategy, but also the environment in which it was implemented. Furthermore, the failure of the strategy to improve childhood immunisation coverage rates and prevent epidemics of vaccine preventable diseases can be linked to the impact individualism had on both the policy development process and the National Immunisation Strategy.

text: Individualism and the public good: a case study in childhood immunisation The election of the Fourth Labour Government in July 1984 marked a turning point in New Zealand’s political economic history, ushering in the rise of the individualism which was fundamental to the prevailing philosophy of neo-liberal rationalism. In addition, however, to the widely recognised individualism in the political economy there was also a rising attitude of individualism within New Zealand's civil society. 

This thesis examines the development of New Zealand’s childhood immunisation policy, the National Immunisation Strategy, as a case study in determining the impact both neo-liberal and civil individualism had on the development of a policy with implications for the public good.
 
The thesis describes the public policy environment m which the National Immunisation Strategy was developed, examining the changes individualism wrought in both New Zealand’s political economy and in civil society. It traces the impact this had in turn on health sector reform, and later on the development of National Immunisation Strategy. 
The research uses qualitative methods in the examination of the policy-making process. It examines the literature surrounding childhood immunisation policy in New Zealand, key documents related to the policy-making process and findings of interviews with key informants involved in the policy-making process variously as officials, expert participants, and interested observers. 

The thesis concludes that both neo-liberal and civil individualism had a role in shaping not just the National Immunisation Strategy, but also the environment in which it was implemented. Furthermore, the failure of the strategy to improve childhood immunisation coverage rates and prevent epidemics of vaccine preventable diseases can be linked to the impact individualism had on both the policy development process and the National Immunisation Strategy.

year: 2000

title: Critical reflection for researcher–community partnership effectiveness: The He Pikinga Waiora process evaluation tool guiding the implementation of chronic condition interventions in Indigenous communities

authors: Rarere, Moana

subjects: community health planning

abstract: Critically reflecting on researcher–community partnerships is a key component in implementing chronic condition interventions in Indigenous communities. This paper draws on the results and learnings from a process evaluation that measures how well two research–community partnerships have followed the He Pikinga Waiora (HPW) Implementation Framework while co-designing chronic condition interventions in primary care. The HPW framework is centred on Indigenous self-determination and knowledge surrounded by community engagement, cultural centredness, systems thinking and integrated knowledge translation. The evaluation included in-depth interviews and online surveys with 10 team members. The findings demonstrate that the HPW framework was followed well, with strengths particularly in community engagement and relationship building. Areas for improvement included systems thinking and integrated knowledge translation to support sustainability of the interventions. The need for partnerships to use process evaluation results to support critical reflection is asserted, which helps build strong trust and synergy, power sharing and effective and sustainable implementation practices. It is concluded that the HPW framework is well suited to evaluating implementation of health interventions in primary care as it assists in the facilitation of better collaboration between researchers and Indigenous communities, and encourages the implementation team to reflect on power and privilege.

text: Critical reflection for researcher–community partnership effectiveness: The He Pikinga Waiora process evaluation tool guiding the implementation of chronic condition interventions in Indigenous communities Critically reflecting on researcher–community partnerships is a key component in implementing chronic condition interventions in Indigenous communities. This paper draws on the results and learnings from a process evaluation that measures how well two research–community partnerships have followed the He Pikinga Waiora (HPW) Implementation Framework while co-designing chronic condition interventions in primary care. The HPW framework is centred on Indigenous self-determination and knowledge surrounded by community engagement, cultural centredness, systems thinking and integrated knowledge translation. The evaluation included in-depth interviews and online surveys with 10 team members. The findings demonstrate that the HPW framework was followed well, with strengths particularly in community engagement and relationship building. Areas for improvement included systems thinking and integrated knowledge translation to support sustainability of the interventions. The need for partnerships to use process evaluation results to support critical reflection is asserted, which helps build strong trust and synergy, power sharing and effective and sustainable implementation practices. It is concluded that the HPW framework is well suited to evaluating implementation of health interventions in primary care as it assists in the facilitation of better collaboration between researchers and Indigenous communities, and encourages the implementation team to reflect on power and privilege.

year: 2019