Community Development Practice: Theory in Action

Abstract

Abstract What are the guides to community development praetiee? Thirty-three practitioners from five different countries participated in a grounded-theory qualitative study to investigate what guides their practice. From the interviews, observations, and materials, it was evident that practitioners held strong values and beliefs about involving people in the process of community change. They developed practice-based, theories-in-action that guided their day-to-day work. They also shared ideas and learned from colleagues, as well from the literature, about community development and related issues, such as culture, history, environment, group process, and reflection. A framework for examining the practice of community development is posed for further discussion and study. Keywords: community developmentpractitionerstheoryand practice