Social Change Approach Research Articles

Art-based social work experiences in Portugal

ABSTRACT This article intends to reflect on art-based social work by highlighting the perception and involvement in art experiences of professionals in Portugal. It critically analyses the use of art as a process, method and technique that can be conceptualised as a social change approach. An exploratory survey was conducted among professionals belonging to the National Association. The survey used closed and open-ended questions, focused on professionals’ understanding of intervention and social change through art, artistic methodologies, and experiences in under degree and professional practice. The results show a low level of professional involvement with art, and for those who use art seem to have acquired post-graduate training and experience on this aspect. Art is a social change approach, focused on personal, community and sensitive to cultural/racial issues. Art-based social work focuses on freedom, and its usage in interventions is fostered by having training and professional experience.

Metaphor drawing as decolonial research and feminist care among Black women academics in selected South African higher education institutions in times of crises

abstract The global COVID-19 pandemic and devastating floods in parts of Southern Africa in 2022 intensified the competing gender role expectations for women academics in the home and workplace, with negative consequences on their effective participation and success in their institutions. This article explores the value of participatory visual methodology generally, and metaphor drawing as feminist decolonial praxis and a research as social change approach to develop a community of practice among a group of 20 South African Black women academics. Participants drew animal metaphors to reflect on their experiences of COVID-19 and the gendered impacts of the neoliberal policies and processes in universities during crises. The participants exhibited and shared their reflections in a workshop format. These were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed using decolonial feminist care as a conceptual lens. Two main themes highlighting women’s vulnerabilities and strengths emerged. Metaphor drawing as a decolonial method has the potential to generate counter-narratives that disrupt pathologising discourses about women academics’ experiences and capacities. The drawing workshop (and previous ones) contributed to generating deep relationality and sociality in the group, with care embedded deeply in the various interactions and formations that arose throughout the workshop and the project.

Cartographic Literacy can Support Social Change Approaches in Technical Communication Courses

Instruction in cartographic or map literacy in technical communication courses can support pedagogies promoting social change. Students must develop an ability to read, understand, interpret, use, and critique maps in technical communication contexts. This article argues that attention to cartographic literacy can build on existing visual literacies to promote critical understanding of how to use and create maps that engage with issues related to social change. A description of a sample assignment is included to introduce cartographic literacy in undergraduate technical communication courses. Student map examples support the conclusion that students benefit from instruction in cartographic literacy and that cartographic literacy can be an important component of technical communication pedagogies that work toward social justice.

Dreaming of The Peaceful Ways: An Evaluation of The Indonesian Deradicalisation Program

The Indonesian deradicalization program conducted by Indonesian National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) comes under public scrutiny due the number of terrorist recidivism with a total of 47 individuals during 2018 until 2020. This indicates that the ongoing deradicalization program has not been successful and effective and it requires a massive change across all levels. This article aims to analyse the Indonesian deradicalization programs which has been adopting the peacemaking criminology approach and how it is implemented. Employing a qualitative study through desk research and informal interviews as the data collection techniques, this article examines various problems and challenges that are hampering the peacemaking-based deradicalization programs in Indonesia, including the problem of database on the ex-convicts, methods of approach and assessment, reliance on the top-down approach conducted by government institutions, pandemic challenges, and inconsistencies with the legal or judicial aspects. Adapting to the social change approach by including the involvement of the non-government stakeholders is important for deradicalization program to work. This article recommends that the evaluation of deradicalization policies in Indonesia should consider the re-focusing of deradicalization goals by aiming at behavioural changes rather than mindset and ideological changes, incorporating gender aspects in deradicalization programs, research-based programs formulation based on intersecting multidiscipline research fields and the possibility for the deradicalization as well as disengagement privatization programs to increase the effectiveness and reduce inefficiency.

Catalysing global and local social change in the land sector through technical innovation by the United Nations and the Global Land Tool Network

Two thirds of the world’s 6 billion tenures are not part of formal governance arrangements. UN-Habitat facilitated the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) partners to develop pro poor land tools between 2006–2015 to help to fill gaps in the conventional land administration systems. Through the lens of the United Nations (UN) working with a global network, the problem being addressed is about how to develop a pro poor Geographic Information System (GIS) in a way that can lead to changes in power relations in parts of the global land industry; and so that people in some poor communities can have their land rights supported by land documents and digital data. The history of the development of the Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM), elucidates the social change approaches that can contribute to the alteration of land-related power relations from global to local levels. The explanatory power of soft systems methodology, linked to global network governance approaches, including the indirect governance approach of orchestration with, and through, intermediaries, is used. This contributes to sociological understanding about what is involved in bringing about social change in global networked environments linked to the UN in regard to technical innovations.

A framework for occupational enablement to facilitate social change in community practice.

Community practice in occupational therapy is becoming increasingly relevant worldwide. Moreover, a social-change approach focusing on occupational enablement is pertinent in community practice as occupational therapists endeavour to promote health, well-being, and occupational justice in communities. Drawing on theory from the fields of community development, community engagement, and occupational enablement, and based on the findings of a previous empirical, qualitative study, a framework for occupational enablement in community practice was developed. This article presents the background to the development of the framework, after which the framework is introduced and discussed in terms of the composition, relevance, and application of its components. The framework details outcomes and objectives that may be targeted and activities that may be utilized successfully during occupational therapy community practice engagements. It further illuminates facilitators of enablement related to contextual factors, stakeholders, and strategies that enhance the potential for enabling community practice engagements. This framework can provide a strategic management guideline for occupational therapists and students who engage with communities in endeavours such as community development and service learning.

Book Review: Social Changes in a Global World by Ulrike Schuerkens

Walden University’s social change approach is an essential part of its vision and is transmitted through the academic work and knowledge of its graduates, who are trained to find solutions to critical societal challenges in pursuit of advancing the greater global good. Schuerkens’ <em>Social Changes in a Global World</em> can serve as a compendium for the Walden family and others interested in this topic. The author examines how social transformations and changes are connected to issues of power and political influence; how transformations and changes have been influenced by concepts of modernity, progress, and rationalization; how transformations and changes differ in various contexts and geographical areas. The author explores globalization through both anthropological and sociological lenses along with the distinct journeys of humanity in developing and industrialized nations that are now seemingly merging and sharing commercial and cultural interests. The audience for this book may include academics, higher education practitioners, individuals concerned with global civil society, and political activists.

FRI0216 Therapeutic Education and Functional Readaptation in Obese Patients on A Waiting List for Total Knee Replacement. A Case-Control Study

BackgroundStudies show patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) on waiting list for total knee replacement (TKR) underused conservative treatment, did not adhere to clinical guidelines on knee OA management, and potentially...

Engaging communities in the understanding of excessive alcohol consumption in rural Central Kenya

Chronic alcohol consumption is among the major public health and socioeconomic burdens in many developing nations. This study focuses on the heavy drinking of unrecorded and unmonitored illicit liquor that has been associated with numerous fatalities in rural Central Kenya in spite of government's efforts to limit its supply and consumption. The communication for social change approach puts emphasis in community engagement, incorporating the unheard voices in defining the problem and designing appropriate interventions. Through focus groups and in-depth interviews to examine rural communities' perspectives on the root cause of the alcoholism problem and their perceive severity of the problem, the study found sociocultural, economic, and environmental factors that need to be addressed for successful alcohol prevention in the region. Although communities are aware of the severity of chronic alcoholism, they may not have proper understanding of the long-term health impact it has on consumers and the overall communities. Such findings are necessary in the design of culture-specific communication interventions that focus on social change beyond individual behavior.

No-Drop Prosecution in Domestic Violence Cases

The feminist debate on no-drop prosecution is long-standing. However, the ways liberal and radical feminist perspectives inform advocacy in applied settings are limited in the extant research. Drawing from interviews with 26 domestic violence (DV) victim advocates, the current study examines perspectives and practices of victim advocates in no-drop prosecution cases. Two predominate themes emerged-a survivor-defined approach to advocacy emphasizing the individual situations and choices of battered women, and a social change approach focusing on changing the social structures that tolerate violence against women. Findings indicated the relationship between such practices was complex, overlapping, and at times contradictory. While advocates generally supported no-drop prosecution with the goal of social change, survivor-defined approaches superseded social change efforts for a majority of advocates. Survivor-centered advocacy and no-drop prosecution at times conflicted with one another. Advocates described victims' concerns about safety, livelihood, and trauma testifying in court as challenges to the policy, as well as the practice of holding victims in contempt of court and jailing them for not testifying. At the same time, advocates illustrated how survivor-defined advocacy complimented prosecution by addressing women's myriad of needs and concerns related to prosecution. Advocates indicated that victims were more likely to safely participate in prosecution when their individual needs were addressed. Implications for DV victim advocacy are presented.

THE IT'S NOT OK CAMPAIGN: CREATING CHANGE TO END FAMILY VIOLENCE IN NEW ZEALAND

BackgroundA primary prevention and social change approach is needed to address high rates of family violence in New Zealand and create safe communities and families.Aims/Objectives/PurposeThe national ‘It's not OK’ campaign...

Reducing the environmental impact of dietary choice: perspectives from a behavioural and social change approach.

Climate change is recognised as a significant public health issue that will impact on food security. One of the major contributors to global warming is the livestock industry, and, relative to plant-based agriculture, meat production has a much higher environmental impact in relation to freshwater use, amount of land required, and waste products generated. Promoting increased consumption of plant-based foods is a recommended strategy to reduce human impact on the environment and is also now recognised as a potential strategy to reduce the high rates of some chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Currently there is a scant evidence base for policies and programs aiming to increase consumption of plant-based diets and little research on the necessary conditions for that change to occur and the processes involved in such a change. This paper reviews some of the environmental and health consequences of current dietary practices, reviews literature on the determinants of consuming a plant-based diet, and provides recommendations for further research in this area.

Exploring and modelling elements of information management that contribute towards making positive impacts: An outcome based approach for senior managers in a local government setting

This paper reports on the first stage of an investigation into monitoring and evaluating the impact of information management (IM) within a local government context. The overall study will utilise a combination of principles from various results-based, outcomes-based and social change approaches (Logical Framework Analysis, Most Significant Change, and Outcomes Mapping) in an attempt to move Leicestershire County Council away from a culture focused on traditional performance measurement, i.e. percentage change in use of services provided to the public, to something of real value. Interviews with 20 senior managers highlighted the important IM issues for Leicestershire County Council as a local government. These initial findings showed that maintaining high quality, trusted, and governed information and knowledge resources were of great value to the organisation. Analysis showed that 85% of senior managers interviewed considered IM to be “critical” in the achievement of organisational outcomes. Further analysis enabled the development of an initial framework indicating key areas where IM can have impact. These key areas will become the focus of further research, where applying a combination of approaches aforementioned will define the boundary partners, their specific outcomes and progress markers with possible impacts proposed. This detail will help to develop a framework for measuring the impact of IM.

Innovative Ideas on How Work–Family Research Can Have More Impact

The commentaries on our focal article agreed with its main premise that work-family research should follow new strategies to improve its practical impact, and made suggestions clustering into three main themes. The first theme built on our suggestion to improve the research focus, terminology, and framing of work-family research. These essays offered additional ideas such as decoupling work-family from work-life research, and examining contextual factors more deeply. The second theme focused on how to better apply the findings from work family research. These commentaries provided social change approaches for making work-family issues more central to key stakeholders and to organizations. The third theme focused on broadening our scope to the societal level. These editorials advocated tactics supporting the development of basic rights of work-life balance within and across nations.

Pan-Arctic TV Series on Inuit wellness: a northern model of communication for social change?

Objectives. This paper provides highlights of a utilization-focused evaluation of a collaborative Pan-Arctic Inuit Wellness TV Series that was broadcast live in Alaska and Canada in May 2009. This International Polar Year (IPY) communication and outreach project intended to (1) share information on International Polar Year research progress, disseminate findings and explore questions with Inuit in Alaska, Canada and Greenland; (2) provide a forum for Inuit in Alaska, Canada and Greenland to showcase innovative health and wellness projects; (3) ensure Inuit youth and adult engagement throughout; and (4) document and reflect on the overall experience for the purposes of developing and “testing” a participatory communication model.Study design. Utilization-focused formative evaluation of the project, with a focus on overall objectives, key messages and lessons learned to facilitate program improvement.Methods. Participant observation, surveys, key informant interviews, document review and website tracking.Results. Promising community programs related to 3 themes — men’s wellness, maternity care and youth resilience — in diverse circumpolar regions were highlighted, as were current and stillevolving findings from ongoing Arctic research. Multiple media methods were used to effectively deliver and receive key messages determined by both community and academic experts. Local capacity and new regional networks were strengthened. Evidence-based resources for health education and community action were archived in digital formats (websites and DVDs), increasing accessibility to otherwise isolated individuals and remote communities.Conclusions. The Pan-Arctic Inuit Wellness TV Series was an innovative, multi-dimensional communication project that raised both interest and awareness about complex health conditions in the North and stimulated community dialogue and potential for increased collaborative action. Consistent with a communication for social change approach, the project created new networks, increased motivation to act and provided new tools to do so, and increased local community involvement and “voice” in the discussion and dissemination of successful strategies to promote Inuit wellness.

Konflik Pertanian antara Komunitas di Desa Watu Nggelek Kecamatan Komodo, Kabupaten Manggarai Barat, Flores, Ntt Tahun 1996 – Sekarang

Social conflict among community in Indonesia has often happened. In this research we will show that social conflict among community is not always involving two different community about their social background: Community of Dalong Society and Tanah Dereng. They have familial relationship, living in the same economic stratification and their religion is same also. Based on the community characteristic, we attempt to explain the causing of the conflict with using the social change approach in relation with conception of Max Weber about authority. According to Weber there are three ways in which power is commonly transformed into authority: traditional authority, rational-legal authority and charismatic authority. To explain the community conflict in our case, we used conception about traditional and rational-legal authority. Directing by these conception, we analyzed that the conflict happened in one side because of changing in traditional authority. There were groups of community member has not obedience to chief of traditional community, and the other side the government has not ability to operate the legal rule.

Are we promoting the health of people with physical mobility impairments? A literature review

PurposeThis paper aims to examine whether the health education and health promotion literature is inclusive of people with physical mobility impairments. The English government Department of Health statistics indicate that the number of people living with physical mobility impairments is increasing and this is largely a result of chronic illness survival. The current UK Government has set targets to reduce inequalities that disproportionally affect those with disabilities. In light of the above points, it was expected that this interest would be reflected by a growing health promotion literature.Design/methodology/approachIn order to achieve an overview of health promotion offered for those with physical mobility impairments, a literature review was conducted. The literature was systematically reviewed using keywords and inclusion criteria. The range of published literature searched included research journals, health promotion texts, health and disability policy documents, as well as web sites offered on the internet.FindingsThere is a dearth in the information and development of health promotion for those with physical mobility impairments. Health policy documents offer little that is specifically focused for this group of people in particular. The majority of the relevant literature comes from the USA. Two theoretical positions are offered in the literature: one argues that those with physical impairments require a medical model approach to support individual's adjustment to society; and the other argues that emphasis should be placed on social change to accommodate those with physical impairments. While there are a range of initiatives in legislation and policy that utilise the social model position, the lack of UK health promotion interventions and the small number of US studies for improving the health of those with physical mobility impairments tends to encourage the medical model approach.Research limitations/implicationsThis review focuses particularly on health promotion for those with physical mobility impairments. Although not exhaustive, it highlights the need for further research into effective development of health promotion for those with physical mobility impairments in the UK.Practical implicationsFar more needs to be done to promote the health of those with physical mobility impairments. Both the medical model and social change approaches are required to deliver health promotion for this segment of the population.Originality/valueThere are no other reviews of the literature with a focus on physical mobility impairment and health promotion. This paper considers an often‐neglected group of people and identifies a need for effective health promotion information and resources.

“The Woman is Not Always the Bad Guy”

Feminist scholars promote an advocacy and social change approach that is rooted in centering women's knowledge and suggestions for change. This article centers and analyzes suggestions made by women staying in shelters for women who have been battered and explores the ways their perspectives reflect individualized or structural discourse and their solutions concentrate needs at the level of survival, equality, or transformation. The article finds that women have a range of perspectives and suggestions, and feminist scholars are encouraged to understand and address these from women's multiple positions while continuing to grapple with how to promote social change to improve women's lives.

Health Communication in the Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use

Research on substance abuse prevention programs indicates that effectiveness is greater when multiple intervention approaches that address the specific vocabulary, perceptions, and values of the target population are employed. The field of health communication provides unique perspectives on media that can be applied to increase the salience and effectiveness of substance abuse prevention programs. Well-designed and well-delivered health communications have the capacity for reaching remote audiences, changing health attitudes and behavior, shaping social norms, changing the way health issues are portrayed by the popular media, and influencing decisions about legislation and policies. Health communication approaches are generally employed within the broad context of health promotion programs, along with education, community development, empowerment, and social change approaches. This article describes the role of health communication in substance abuse prevention, reviews major conceptualizations of health communication, and introduces the unique features of the four articles included in this special section of Health Education & Behavior.

Anthropology and Social Marketing: A Powerful Combination

Social marketing is a social change approach that is gaining wide popularity as another tool for practicing anthropologists and public health practitioners. The goal is to influence the voluntary behavior of targeted populations with specific health-communication messages, materials and interventions. Social marketing is: … the application of commercial marketing technologies to the analysis, planning, execution and evaluation of programs designed to influence the voluntary behavior of target audiences in order to improve their personal welfare and that of society. (Alan Andreason, Marketing Social Change: Changing Behavior to Promote Health, Social Development, and the Environment. San Francisco: Jossey Bass 1995)