Social change research is an effective means through which social issues may be combated, and justice for those in need may be achieved. Given the proactivity of the provided research in identifying viable programs with real-world implications for different communities, this research effectively narrows the gap between theory and application. Though it has some negative aspects, it is much more effective when done right, professionally, and authoritatively. For instance, Participatory Action Research (PAR), is a type of social transformation research that focuses on the involvement of the members of a community in the identification of problems and in the determination of interventions, at the same time endorsing the subjects in this activity (Brydon-Miller, 1997).
A primary strength is that social change research can identify solutions oriented toward particular settings. In contrast to the fundamental research goals of creating more knowledge, social change research is all about tangible results. For instance, the Rescue Agency uses data to develop health behavior interventions. They learn from their target population and include feedback from their community while dealing with concerns such as smoking and mental health issues. This approach also shows Suntec’s capacity to arrange and conduct the applied research to generate lasting positive changes in public health.
Another advantage is that this development tried to empower those who have been neglected by society. Most social change research engages the target stakeholders hence giving them an upper hand in providing solutions. This tally with Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory which advocates for reciprocal interactions of personal, behavioral, and environmental factors. Forcing behavior change upon others is normally very difficult, and this can be avoided by involving communities in the research process. For example, PAR has been useful in the development of education programs with a positive perspective of students and teachers, thus empowering and making the programs more relevant and effective (Gosin et al., 2003).
It has been claimed that social change research may be subjective because of the activist emphasis. But this criticism fails to appreciate the genre of essentially value-laden scholarship that seeks to challenge and redress structural injustice. Such research is to adhere to ethical standards to justify the scientific merits of its course of the undertaking including aspects of clarity and impartiality. Third, since the research involved in social change focuses on the participation of the members of the concerned community, biases can easily be addressed.
In conclusion, social change research constitutes a critical specialty in contemporary psychological science and population health science. Although issues like bias and resource implementation are present there is no other tool as essential when it comes to driving real change in the community. For Brydon-Miller (1997), the use of both research and activism as a practice offers a valuable chance to construct a more correct society. Since methodological interweaving of theory with practice is inherent in social change research, the proposed and practiced approaches not only advance knowledge about societal issues but also provide solutions to those issues.
References
- Brydon-Miller, M. (1997). Participatory Action Research: Psychology and Social Change. Journal of Social Issues, 53(4), 657–666.
- Gosin, M., Dustman, P., Drapeau, A., & Harthun, M. (2003). Participatory action research: Creating an effective prevention curriculum for adolescents in the Southwestern US. Health Education Research, 18(3), 363–379.
- Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice Hall.