There are different types of research methods utilized by the critical researchers. One of the most frequently used method is a participatory research, which implies that there should be a partnership between the disadvantaged community and the researcher (Nelson & Prilleltensky, 2010). Since the issue of interest is homelessness, I could use the participatory method to understand how an intervention affects the attitudes of homeless people. For instance, I could provide an education program about how to find accommodation and a job in a community, gather quantitative and qualitative data about its impact, and compare to a control community, where no such intervention was provided.
A good example of participatory community-based research is described in the article by Carty et al. (2011). The research studied how a sustained community intervention to reduce racism and infant mortality influenced knowledge, beliefs, and experiences of racism in the community (Carty et al., 2011). The results revealed that the participants of the intervention understood how racism affected their health status more than non-participants (Carty et al., 2011). The research is adherent to the idea of critical paradigm, which states that systems are biased against minorities. At the same time, the research is aimed at bringing a positive change.
References
Carty, D. C., Kruger, D. J., Turner, T. M., Campbell, B., DeLoney, E. H., & Lewis, E. Y. (2011). Racism, health status, and birth outcomes: Results of a participatory community-based intervention and health survey. Journal of Urban Health, 88(1), 84-97.
Nelson, G., & Prilleltensky, I. (2010). Community psychology: In pursuit of liberation and well-being (2nd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.