Canada geese on lake

Coding Moment of the Week 10

We continue outlining our “Moment of the Week,” in which we share an interesting coding discussion.

This week our Coding Moment of the Week addresses issues of Equity vs Equality. Please take a few moments to read Luna’s article before reading about this coding moment: Equity vs Equality.
For more information on coding, click here.

What They Said

Question #5: What are the similarities and differences between how you work at your organization and how you work within the collaboration between the Cornell Lab and Community Partners?

Interviewee Answer: “You know, Cornell and the ICBOs are developing something together. But there’s always a little bit of a hesitancy to speak too much on behalf of Cornell or provide too much input. Because I understand that this project really isn’t a co-creative project… It’s a project that should benefit those communities more than it should benefit Cornell. You know, the equity isn’t equal right now… Do we really want this to be all about the ICBOs, and Cornell really should just be the infrastructure and support that those projects and those organizations need? Or does Cornell have some say that should be as equitable as the voices of the ICBOs?”

INTERVIEWEE

How We Coded It

Here, the respondent contemplates the relationship that should exist between Cornell and the ICBOs in the NOISE project. They discuss the relative involvement that each group should have in the collaborative process of co-creation. As such, we applied the codes co-creation and collaboration.

Through their use of rhetorical questioning, the interviewee shows that they are unsure of the role that the Cornell lab should play in the process. They raise questions that should be answered if the co-creative process is to succeed, questions to which the interviewee themselves does not have concrete answers . From this, we applied the codes doubt and uncertainty.

The interviewee explores the issue of equity vs equality. Here, they express uncertainty and skepticism about the fact that Cornell and the ICBOs do not appear to be equal partners in collaboration–that is, the concerns of the two groups are not of the same importance. This notion is made clear when they say, “do we really want this to be all about the ICBOs” and state that “the equity isn’t equal right now.” 

  • Notice that the interviewee discusses the “say” that both groups should have, but not the power dynamics that exist between the two groups. This is made clear in the last sentence, when they ask whether Cornell’s input should be just as “equitable” as that of the ICBOs, rather than discussing the way in which Cornell’s input, by virtue of the fact that Cornell is a prestigious institution, may fundamentally hold weight and power in many spaces.

Question for thought:

The interviewee discusses whether there needs to be a balance of perspectives between Cornell and ICBOS. What do you think? Should all groups contribute equally, or is it sometimes necessary for there to be an unequal distribution of voices and priorities? Does this answer change in a setting in which one group has more power and privilege than the other?

Do you agree with the codes we applied? Do you disagree? Are you comfortable with the thought process that took place? Let us know!