Abraham Wandersman – författare

The fourth edition of this acclaimed textbook provides an in-depth and engaging overview of community psychology, including its theoretical underpinnings and methods for conducting research and promoting change within communities. This book aims to get students, including nonpsychology majors, excited about the field and being agents of social change.New to this edition are an increased focus on values, particularly those related to social justice, empowering minority communities, and solving complex societal problems-like poverty, oppression, and climate change-across multiple ecological levels.New research and case examples present important developments in the field and society at large, accompanied by extensive discussion questions that will encourage self-reflection and help students apply key concepts to their own lives. A new marginal glossary also highlights important concepts.  Chapter summaries, recommended videos and other resources, review questions, sample lecture slides, and other materials for students and instructors are available on the book amp rsquo s companion website (http://pubs.apa.org/books/supp/kloos4/).

This ninth volume in the series deals with a fascinating and complex topic in the environment and behavior field. Neighborhoods and com­ munities are in various stages of formation and transition in almost every society, nation, and culture. A variety of political, economic, and social factors have resulted in the formation of new communities and the transformation of older communities. Thus we see nomadic people set­ tling into stable communities, new towns sprouting up around the world, continuing suburban sprawl, simultaneous deterioration, re­ newal and gentrification of urban areas, demographic changes in com­ munities, and so on. As in previous volumes, the range of content, theory, and methods represented in the various chapters is intended to be broadly based, with perspectives rooted in several disciplines-anthropology, history, psychology, sociology, urban studies. Although many other disciplines also play an important role in the study and understanding of neigh­ borhoods and community environments, we hope that the contributions to this volume will at least present readers with a broad sampling-if not a comprehensive treatment-of the topic.

Empowerment evaluation - a method for using evaluation concepts, techniques and findings to foster improvement and self-determination - is the focus of this book. After an examination of the method as it has been adopted in academic and foundation settings, the book looks at the various contexts in which empowerment evaluation is conducted, ranging from resistant environments to responsive environments. Critical concerns in empowerment evaluation, such as the role of empowerment theory and multiple levels of empowerment from individual to societal, are then discussed. The book also provides tools and technical assistance needed to conduct empowerment evaluation. The concluding section of the book serves to strengthen the links between empowerment evaluation and community-capacity building.

This ninth volume in the series deals with a fascinating and complex topic in the environment and behavior field. Neighborhoods and com­ munities are in various stages of formation and transition in almost every society, nation, and culture. A variety of political, economic, and social factors have resulted in the formation of new communities and the transformation of older communities. Thus we see nomadic people set­ tling into stable communities, new towns sprouting up around the world, continuing suburban sprawl, simultaneous deterioration, re­ newal and gentrification of urban areas, demographic changes in com­ munities, and so on. As in previous volumes, the range of content, theory, and methods represented in the various chapters is intended to be broadly based, with perspectives rooted in several disciplines-anthropology, history, psychology, sociology, urban studies. Although many other disciplines also play an important role in the study and understanding of neigh­ borhoods and community environments, we hope that the contributions to this volume will at least present readers with a broad sampling-if not a comprehensive treatment-of the topic.

What principles should guide an empowerment evaluation? And how can these principles actually be put into practice? One of the primary tasks in an empowerment evaluation (EE) is to increase the capacity of program stakeholders to plan, implement, and evaluate their own programs. This book presents the most current formulation of the 10 principles of EE and provides professionals and students with the tools to put these principles into practice. Through case studies of diverse evaluation projects--including community health foundation initiatives, school district programs, and a $15 million corporate program aimed at bridging the digital divide--the founder and leading proponents of EE clarify key concepts and discuss important lessons learned. Coverage includes how to balance program improvement efforts with accountability requirements; how EE can be used to guide standards-based work; how to use EE in a learning organization; the differences among empowerment, collaborative, and participatory evaluation; and much more.