Action and participation in research for social change

Introduction

Key terms: qualitative and quantitative research, social change, collaboration with society or policy, introductory course, relevant for students in any PhD phase.

ECTS: 2.5 
Number of sessions: 6
Hours per session: 2.5 

Do you aim to collaborate with societal stakeholders in your research? Or do you want to contribute to social change with your research?  

This course delves into the intricate relationship between research and social change, introducing diverse forms of process-oriented research, such as transdisciplinary research, action research, participatory research, and knowledge co-production.  

Many of these research approaches have a long history and have been applied in diverse geographic, cultural and political contexts. They are participatory in their approach and come with a different understanding of what rigorous research entails.  

This course encourages students to examine the societal and political agendas their work serves, provides guidance in developing researcher roles and research relations, while pausing to reflect on ethical dilemmas posed through such research.
 

Entry level and relevance

This is an introductory course. No prior knowledge or experience is required.

The course is most useful for people who intend to engage with societal or policy stakeholders in the context of their research. It can also be useful for those who are in the middle of their engagement to increase reflexivity. 

The course will be most beneficial for PhD candidates engaging in qualitative research or mixed-methods approaches.
 

Relations with other courses

The course is complementary to other methodology courses offered by EGSH. It does not focus on one specific method like other courses, but supports students in designing their research to contribute to social change and engaging with societal stakeholders.  

Sessions and preparations

Session 1: Research and social change 
We will start with an introduction to how research can engage with and contribute to social change through various process-oriented and transformative approaches.

Session 2: Researcher roles and positionality
In the second session, we will explore how researchers’ backgrounds, values, and positions as well as their institutional embedding shape their inquiry and their relationships in the research process.

Session 3: Collaborative research relations
Session 3 examines participatory approaches and the co-production of knowledge through collaborative research relationships.

Session 4: Research rigour and action-oriented methods
In session 4, we will explore what rigour and quality mean in process-oriented research and invites students to explore action-oriented methods.

Session 5: Ethics of process-oriented research 
The last meeting offers a reflection on the ethical dimensions and responsibilities involved in conducting process-oriented research. 

Preparations:
Two weeks before the start of the course a complete syllabus will be provided including a more detailed outline of the sessions and the preparatory readings.