The ‘thin’ and ‘thick’ needs of Roma: a participatory mixed methods study

ABSTRACT

This article contributes to scholarship on participatory mixed methods research while and presents empirical evidence relating to the needs of Roma. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (2005) acknowledged the specific nature of racism towards Roma as being persistent both historically and geographically; permanent and not decreasing; as systematic, accepted by virtually all the community; and often accompanied by acts of violence [2012, National Roma Integration Strategies: a first step in the implementation of the EU Framework. COM (2012) 226, 21 May 2012, http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/roma/eu-framework/index_en.htm]. This has repercussions for establishing trust in the research relationship. Thus, such research presents a methodological challenge which on this occasion could not have been completed without the active involvement of community researchers at every stage of the research process. Its aim was to assess the needs of Roma in a particular time and place. Scholarship on needs influenced the methodology and a participatory sequential explanatory mixed methods study was designed and completed. Nancy Fraser distinguishes between ‘thin needs’, which refer to universal needs, and ‘thick needs’, which are more specific [1989, Unruly Practices, Cambridge: Polity Press, p. 163]. This framework is utilized to explore the accommodation needs of Roma in Ireland.

KEYWORDS:

• Roma
• needs
• participation
• mixed methods
• community

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Patricia Kennedy was the Principal Investigator on the National Needs Assessment of Roma in Ireland.

Siobhan Curran is the Roma Project Coordinator, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Gabi Muntaen is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Tica Munteanu is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Emilia Caldaras is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Emmanuel Caldaras is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Emil Alex Petrovics is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Isaac Ianko is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Angela Cirpaci is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Mariana Pruteanu is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Delia Danila is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Jennifer Ciuciu is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Ricardo Munteanu is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Joseph Duna is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Roman Bartos is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Julius Fako is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Miriam Ciuciu is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Carmen Lupsa is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Tiberius Fusteac is a peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Helena Dunova is peer researcher on the National Needs Assessment of Roma, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre.

Niamh Flanagan is a Lecturer in Social Policy at NUI Maynooth.

Shannon O'Donovan is a Masters in Social Work Graduate.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Department of Justice and Equality.