Upon application to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council for funding, the Network had to define the projects that would constitute "measuring the co-operative difference". There is a small amount of flexibility in the Network to modify/change/add/remove projects, but largely, these decisions have already been made. Many of the projects are in the early development stages, but some are spin-offs of other projects that were started under the suite of Social Economy projects funded through SSHRC over the past five years.

If you are interested in becoming involved in any of the following research projects (either as a co-op practitioner, academic, student or otherwise), please contact us.

There are four regional Clusters and each Cluster is taking the lead on a handful of projects. See list of all projects here. The project number on the left determines which Cluster the project falls under, using the following as a reference:

A= Atlantic, led by Dr. Leslie Brown at Mount Saint Vincent University

P= Prairie, led by Dr. Lou Hammond Ketilson at the University of Saskatchewan

W= Western, led by Dr. Ana Maria Peredo at the University of Victoria

N= National, led by Quintin Fox at the Canadian Co-operative Association

 
A1 - Co-operative sustainability & planning practices
A2 - Co-op Index - Diagnosing co-operatives for member/employee participation & adherence to principles and values
A3 - Theoretical advances in economic and management models

P1 - Measuring the impact of credit unions on wealth building in communities
P2 - Impact of co-operative housing on household income, skills and social capital

W1- Integrating approaches to the co-operative difference
W2- Survival rates of co-ops in British Columbia
W3- Co-operative Inquiry: Co-operatives and marginalized communities in British Columbia

Links to more information about Western Cluster projects

N1 - Survey of co-operatives - measuring longevity, social and economic impact
N2 - Co-operative Development Initiative (CDI) and innovation
N3 - Examining the value and potential of national co-op sector federations
N4 - Co-operatives and alternative energy production
N5 - (Updating book) 170 year history of the Sussex Co-op, New Brunswick

Links to more information about national projects

Cooperative inquiry methodology

The proposed methodology is based on principles of co-operative inquiry (Heron, 1996), where research
is conducted with, rather than on, interested parties (partners in CURA). In co-operative inquiry the
detached role of researchers is replaced by a relationship of participation, so that all stakeholders can be
both researchers and subjects, and participate equitably in the research design.

We consider the people from co-op organizations as co-researchers responsible for the results of the research.

Heron, J. 1996 Cooperative Inquiry: Research into the human condition, Sage http://www.human-inquiry.com/doculist.htm

Presentation by Ryszard Stocki (Poland) May 29, 2010 Describing the method

Presentation by Peter Hough (Atlantic Cluster Co-Lead) at Network Meeting in Fredericton, NB, June 2011

What does this mean for our Network?

-Collaboration is important

-The Network will strive to develop tools and offer training that will serve practitioners as well as academics