Thur pm Debby et al
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Transcript Thur pm Debby et al
Deborah Lynch, Catherine Forde & Mary Hurley
Methodologies for a new era?
Potential of research to be ‘transformative’ and
linked to ‘shared goal’ of social change
Mutual interest in exploring the work of Donna
Mertens – her ‘transformative paradigm’ (2009)
Links to our research
The contribution that social workers make to
communities is integral to the principles and values of
the profession but is often ‘hidden’ and
unacknowledged
An exploration of social workers’ engagement with
collective approaches to practice
Qualitative interviews with practitioners in statutory,
voluntary and community contexts
Broad range of community-based collective activities
in diverse practice contexts
Access to communities that ‘are pushed to societies
margins’ (Mertens, 2009, p. 48)
Specialist practice knowledge to inform research
responses
Critical practice (Ife, 1998) – social workers as ‘change
agents’
Partnerships, alliances, practice networks, affiliations
Practice skills such as: assessing needs and resources; analysing
problems and goals; participation and membership, developing a
framework or model for change; writing grant applications;
cultural competence… ‘toolkit’ (Mertens, 2009)
Building a research culture within the social work profession
through linking social inquiry to social action
Research and evaluation research to critique and refine policy to
advocate actions that support changes in policy
Overview
Participation and action
Critical reflection – ‘insider’
Researcher/Activist
Donna Mertens – focus of work ‘transformative mixed
method inquiry in diverse communities that prioritises
ethical implications of research in pursuit of social
justice’ (p.401)
Researchers with the goal of social change – ‘what
kind of power does participation in my study give and
to whom?’ Examples of where participation does not
imbue political power – shifting responsibility for
change on those who have little political power.
‘If we ground research and evaluation in
assumptions (see later slide) that prioritise the
furtherance of social justice and human rights,
then we will utilise community involvement and
research methodologies that will lead to a greater
realisation of social change’ (Mertens, 2009, p.3)
Underlying assumptions that rely on ethical
stances of inclusion and challenging oppressive
social structures
An entry process into the community that is
designed to build trust and make goals and
strategies transparent
Dissemination of findings in ways that encourage
use of the results to enhance social justice and
human rights
(Mertens, 2009, p. 5)
Transformational action research ‘generates knowledge
claims for the expressed purpose of taking action to
promote social analysis and democratic social change’
(Greenwood & Levine, 2007, p.5 cited in Mertens, 2009)
Emancipatory action research focuses on institutional
factors that impede change in a practice context
(Humphries, 2008)
Donna Mertens moved from the emancipatory paradigm
to transformative to emphasise ‘agency’ (2009, p.2).
Authenticity
Positionality
Community
Attention to voice
Critical Reflexivity
Reciprocity
Sharing the benefits of privilege
Places central importance on the lives and
experiences of communities that are pushed to
society’s margins
Analyses power relationships
Links results of social inquiry to action
Uses transformative theory to develop inquiry
approach (Mertens, 2009, p. 48)
Axiology
Respect, beneficence, justice
Ontology
Unequal distribution of power;
accounts of the powerful most likely to
be accepted
Epistemology
‘Interactive and empowering’ research
relationship; collaboration,
understanding and building of trust
important
Methodology
Qualitative dimension; partnership
between researchers and community;
Participants’ voice valued.
Qualitative methods (dialogical) critical
Quantitative and mixed methods
Interactive link between researcher and participants in
defining focus and questions
Methods to accommodate cultural complexity
Contextual and historic factors – as related to
discrimination and oppression
Observation
Document and Artifact Review
Personal Reflections
Interviews
Focus groups
Gender Analysis
Community-based data collection
Visual Data – photographs, video, web
Ranking/Trend Analysis/Forms of Mapping
Social Network Analysis
Surveys – including computer- based surveying
(double-edged sword?)
What could be some of the challenges using the
transformative paradigm as a researcher in your
work context?
Choose a data collection method that interests the
group and discuss its potential for use in your
work setting.
Bradbury, H. and Reason, P. (2003) ‘Action Research: An
Opportunity for Revitalizing Research Purpose and Practices’,
Qualitative Social Work, 46(1): 144-146.
Holmquist, C. and Sundin, E. (2010) ‘The Suicide of the Social
Sciences: Causes and Effects’, The European Journal of Social
Science Research, 23 (1): 13-23.
Humphries, B. (2008) Social Work Research for Social Justice,
Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Ife, J. (1997) Rethinking Social Work: Towards Critical Practice,
Melbourne: Longman.
Lincoln, Y.S (1995) Standards for Qualitatitive Research, Paper
presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational
Research Association, San Francisco.
Mertens, D. (2007) ‘Transformative Paradigm:
Mixed Methods and Social Justice’, Journal of
Mixed Methods Research, 1 (3): 212-225.
Mertens, D. M. (2009) Transformative
Research and Evaluation, New York: The
Guilford Press.