Abstract
This article examines the theoretical basis of the community as it is evoked in health evaluation. In particular, we examine how hospitals carrying out Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) define communities as well as the implications for these definitions for how to study and engage community problems. We present qualitative findings from a sample of Appalachian nonprofit hospitals, who we asked to describe their approach to defining the community in their most recent Internal Revenue Service–mandated CHNA. Drawing upon a theoretical debate in the history of evaluation research, the authors argue that the contemporary community cannot be circumscribed merely by geographic boundaries, nor can it be identified easily with a bounded group of clearly demarcated individuals. Instead, following the tenets of community-based health research, the authors argue for a richer, more dynamic conceptualization of the community in evaluation research in which definitions arise from community bodies themselves.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 237-256 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | American Journal of Evaluation |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- evaluation theory
- health
- hospitals
- needs assessment
- qualitative methods
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Business and International Management
- Social Psychology
- Health(social science)
- Education
- Sociology and Political Science
- Strategy and Management
Cite this
Defining “Community” in Community Health Evaluation : Perspectives From a Sample of Nonprofit Appalachian Hospitals. / Franz, Berkeley A.; Skinner, Daniel; Murphy, John W.
In: American Journal of Evaluation, Vol. 39, No. 2, 01.06.2018, p. 237-256.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Defining “Community” in Community Health Evaluation
T2 - Perspectives From a Sample of Nonprofit Appalachian Hospitals
AU - Franz, Berkeley A.
AU - Skinner, Daniel
AU - Murphy, John W
PY - 2018/6/1
Y1 - 2018/6/1
N2 - This article examines the theoretical basis of the community as it is evoked in health evaluation. In particular, we examine how hospitals carrying out Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) define communities as well as the implications for these definitions for how to study and engage community problems. We present qualitative findings from a sample of Appalachian nonprofit hospitals, who we asked to describe their approach to defining the community in their most recent Internal Revenue Service–mandated CHNA. Drawing upon a theoretical debate in the history of evaluation research, the authors argue that the contemporary community cannot be circumscribed merely by geographic boundaries, nor can it be identified easily with a bounded group of clearly demarcated individuals. Instead, following the tenets of community-based health research, the authors argue for a richer, more dynamic conceptualization of the community in evaluation research in which definitions arise from community bodies themselves.
AB - This article examines the theoretical basis of the community as it is evoked in health evaluation. In particular, we examine how hospitals carrying out Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) define communities as well as the implications for these definitions for how to study and engage community problems. We present qualitative findings from a sample of Appalachian nonprofit hospitals, who we asked to describe their approach to defining the community in their most recent Internal Revenue Service–mandated CHNA. Drawing upon a theoretical debate in the history of evaluation research, the authors argue that the contemporary community cannot be circumscribed merely by geographic boundaries, nor can it be identified easily with a bounded group of clearly demarcated individuals. Instead, following the tenets of community-based health research, the authors argue for a richer, more dynamic conceptualization of the community in evaluation research in which definitions arise from community bodies themselves.
KW - evaluation theory
KW - health
KW - hospitals
KW - needs assessment
KW - qualitative methods
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046999528&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85046999528&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1098214017722857
DO - 10.1177/1098214017722857
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85046999528
VL - 39
SP - 237
EP - 256
JO - American Journal of Evaluation
JF - American Journal of Evaluation
SN - 1098-2140
IS - 2
ER -