Social Change Programs Research Articles

Make Me Black Music Video: A Project of DIVAS for Social Justice

The Make Me Black Music Video is a collaborative project created in 2022 by students of the STEAM for Social Change program to honor Black History Month. The initial idea for the music video was inspired when one of the STEAM for Social Change facilitators first heard the song while listening to a local Minnesota radio station, Purple Current. Also available as an internet stream, the Purple Current radio station focuses on Black music that honors the legacy of the late musician Prince Rogers Nelson. As the facilitator listened to the song Make Me Black, originally performed by Minnesotan Ashley Dubose, they saw it as a medium for teaching students the importance of seeing themselves as beautiful and joyful, while instilling pride in where they come from. Before creating their music video, students engaged in an 8-week session where they learned the history of MTV, including how the channel failed to play any artists of color until Michael Jackson’s Thriller became a global phenomenon in 1983. Students also analyzed the song lyrics, created storyboards using Polaroid cameras, and learned about the fundamentals of music video production. The original music was produced by Rich Lee and performed by Ashley DuBose. The students’ music video was filmed on location at their school sites and the DIVAS for Social Justice makerspace. It also features the artwork of educator and artist, Adam Johnson.

Regrounding the Unworldly: Carnap’s Politically Engaged Logical Pluralism

Recent discussions of logical pluralism trace its origins to Rudolf Carnap’s principle of tolerance; indeed, the principle is seen as one of Carnap’s lasting philosophical contributions. In this paper, I will argue that Carnap’s reasons for adopting this principle are not purely logical, but are rather founded in the Vienna Circle’s manifesto—a programmatic document that brings the Circle’s philosophical work together with a program of social change. Building on work by Uebel, Romizi, and others, I argue that we must understand the principle in light of Carnap’s role in writing the manifesto, and thus as integrated into the larger philosophical and political goals of the Circle. This history illuminates the often-ignored relationship between Carnap’s logical pluralism and his political views. Finally, I turn to the political situation of the post-World War 2 period in the United States. During this time, the Circle’s emigres in the USA transitioned their work from active efforts to reform society to the technical work that we recognize as the foundation of American analytic philosophy today. In this final section, I argue that the reasons that Carnap distanced himself from the political foundations of his view were due in large part to McCarthy-era persecution of left-wing academics.

Engaged fatherhood and new models of “nurturing care”: Lessons learnt from Austria, Italy, Lithuania and Portugal

AbstractResearch on gender‐based violence highlights the need to engage men in prevention work through social change programs that present care as a powerful antidote to violence. Implementation of such programs worldwide provides many examples of how education and support for fathers and fathers‐to‐be can promote healthy masculinities and relationships with an intimate partner and their children. This article aims to explore the findings and lessons learned from the pilot of the European Union‐funded Promotion, Awareness Raising and Engagement of men in Nurture Transformations (PARENT) project (PARENT) which sought to develop and pilot curricula adapted from the internationally tested Program P methodology. The PARENT pilot worked in four European countries to provide training activities for social, educational, and health professionals, as well as education groups for fathers and parents, with the overarching goal of preventing domestic violence through the promotion of engaged fatherhood. By reporting the results from mixed‐methods impact evaluations of pilot programs conducted with professionals and parents, this article discusses how gender‐synchronous father‐focused training can contribute to a shift toward increased positive engagement of fathers during the first 1000 days of a child's life. The article conveys the pilot's promising impact on the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of professionals and parents, and it examines some of the key contextual factors, limitations, and implementation approaches that plausibly contributed to the PARENT pilot outcomes, with the aim to formulate useful considerations for future scale‐up efforts or the future implementation of similar programs to engage fathers in nurturing care and violence prevention.

Breastfeeding practices and social norms in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A qualitative study.

Breastfeeding has many benefits for both mothers and children. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. However, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, slightly under half of children under six months are exclusively breastfed. This study aimed to describe breastfeeding practices and to explore perceived social norms regarding breastfeeding among mothers in Kinshasa. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in Kinshasa from June to July 2013. This study purposively sampled 54 mothers of infants aged 6 to 12 months, who participated in six focus group discussions. Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the discussion guide explored infant feeding in the first six months, knowledge of breastfeeding, perception of the feasibility of exclusive breastfeeding, and perception of the social norms with regard to exclusive breastfeeding. The content analysis approach was used to analyse data. Mothers had good breastfeeding knowledge; however, few of them had practised exclusive breastfeeding as recommended during the first six months. Exclusive breastfeeding was considered unfeasible in their context. Barriers to exclusive breastfeeding were reported as baby's cries, social pressure, warm climate, and poor maternal diet. Social norms were supportive of breastfeeding but unfavourable to exclusive breastfeeding. In Kinshasa, mothers have a good knowledge of breastfeeding. However, few practise exclusive breastfeeding. Social pressure plays an important role in the cessation of exclusive breastfeeding before six months. In order to improve the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in this context, social and behaviour change programmes should target the entire population rather than mothers only.

Strengthening Social and Behavior Change Programming Through Application of an Adaptive Management Framework: A Case Study in Tanzania.

Integrated social and behavior change (SBC) programs seek to achieve changes in behaviors and norms across a range of health areas. Realizing changes across multiple behaviors is inherently complex and requires programs to be designed and implemented nimbly in ways that are responsive to feedback, new learning, and contextual shifts. Responsive feedback (RF) promotes just this kind of data analysis, use, and programmatic adaptation. Under the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)'s flagship SBC program in Tanzania, USAID Tulonge Afya, we applied FHI 360's SBC Adaptive Management Framework, which shares many similarities with RF. It includes meaningful engagement with an array of stakeholders throughout project design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation (M&E); requires close collaboration between M&E and programmatic staff to ensure data collection and use are informed by and contribute to refinement of the project's theory of change; and incorporates purposeful, routine opportunities for learning and course correction. Accompanying the framework is a suite of tools and activities to facilitate systematic collection, analysis, and application of data for project design, improvement, and evaluation. Use of the framework within a complex, integrated SBC program improved our ability to address emerging priorities and achieve greater scale, saturation, and quality execution of activities. It also facilitated significant input from local communities and stakeholders-through shared data analysis and feedback loops-ensuring project activities reflected their strengths, needs, and preferences rather than the perspectives and biases of program implementers. In this article, we discuss the key components of the SBC Adaptive Management Framework and its commonalities with RF, how use of the framework and the underlying principles and elements of the RF approach contributed to the project's success, and share lessons that may strengthen and expand the application of RF and similar approaches within future SBC programs.

Can Motivation, Opportunity and Ability Theory Informed Segments Be Validated in the Australian Defence Force?

Background Segmentation use in social marketing especially in improving the health of young adults is limited, and theory use within segmentation remains infrequent. A generalisable segmentation structure that can be reliably applied across different young adult’s samples may assist social marketers to move beyond one size fits all healthy eating programs. Focus of the Article Segmentation is an essential marketing principle which allows customising marketing activities to the needs of specific segments. Evidence shows that behaviour change is more likely when more principles are used, yet segmentation remains underutilised and a cross-sample validation of segments across different populations remains to be demonstrated. Importance to the Social Marketing Field Delivery of healthy eating programs targeted to group differences and accommodating a broader theory-based socio-ecological viewpoint is needed to engage with a cross section of young adults more effectively along with a cross-sample validation of segments across different populations to identify a valid segmentation structure that can be reliably applied across the Australian young adult population. Methods A replication study was conducted using the same constructs, items and analytical procedures as in the original study. Data was collected online and in person using a paper survey in two military bases to ensure a mix of Australian Defence Force (ADF) trainee types. Psychographic variables informed by the MOA framework were collected and used to segment the sample with two-step cluster analysis along with a demographic measure (education) and behavioural measure (eating behaviour) to repeat the segmentation analysis. Results The ability of the MOA framework to explain eating behaviour was confirmed in the ADF trainee sample, and two-step cluster analysis produced a similar segment structure to the original study with education, opportunity and motivation to eat healthy being the most important variables in segment formation. Recommendations for Research or Practice Segmentation is important for developing understanding that enables social marketers to design social change programs to meet the needs of young adults. This empirical replication study confirmed a similar theory-driven healthy eating segment solution across two young adult populations illustrating the value of using behavioural theories to draw segments and utilising the same theory to cross-validate the constructs in a comparable sample. Future research could use this approach to identify a valid segmentation structure that can be reliably applied across different populations and behavioural contexts.

More Is Required of Us: Complicating an Ontology of Experience at the Heart of Community-Based Research

More Is Required of Us: Complicating an Ontology of Experience at the Heart of Community-Based Research

Getting Rigor Right: A Framework for Methodological Choice in Adaptive Monitoring and Evaluation.

The field of global development has embraced the idea that programs require agile, adaptive approaches to monitoring, evaluation, and learning. But considerable debate still exists around which methods are most appropriate for adaptive learning. Researchers have a range of proven and novel tools to promote a culture of adaptation and learning. These tools include lean testing, rapid prototyping, formative research, and structured experimentation, all of which can be utilized to generate responsive feedback (RF) to improve social change programs. With such an extensive toolkit, how should one decide which methods to employ? In our experience, the level of rigor used should be responsive to the team's level of certainty about the program design being investigated-how certain-or confident-are we that a program design will produce its intended results? With less certainty, less rigor is needed; with more certainty, more rigor is needed. In this article, we present a framework for getting rigor right and illustrate its use in 3 case studies. For each example, we describe the feedback methods used and why, how the approach was implemented (including how we conducted cocreation and ensured buy-in), and the results of each engagement. We conclude with lessons learned from these examples and how to use the right kind of RF mechanism to improve social change programs.

Social advocacy: a conceptual model to extend post-intervention effectiveness

ABSTRACT Commercial marketing literature highlights benefits from brand advocates who recruit and promote in the interest of the commercial entity. However, a similar focus is lacking on how advocacy can extend the effectiveness of social change initiatives. We utilise a case study to demonstrate the benefit of social advocacy and its impact on behaviour change, and thereby propose an advocacy model. To develop this conceptual model, we discuss several key areas; behaviour change and advocacy, advocate identification, and how to influence advocacy within communities and individuals. This research provides a guiding framework for practitioners to develop programs and interventions with advocacy triggers and strategies to enhance the longevity and effectiveness of social change programs through participant-based advocacy. Thus, giving intervention programs in a variety of organisational structures e.g. non-profit, corporate, government etc. a specific model to increase the effectiveness of social programs. Our paper extends behaviour change literature by leveraging social marketing concepts to modify and extend the transtheoretical model.

Realist evaluation of social and behaviour change interventions: Co-building theory and evidence of impact

Background: A complexity-aware approach, realist evaluation is ideal for norms-shifting interventions (NSIs), which are not well-understood but gaining prominence in behaviour change programming in Africa and globally to foster enabling socionormative environments that sustain behaviour change. A new application of realist evaluation to NSIs uses an adapted approach employing realism values that is suitable for social and behaviour change (SBC) programme evaluation more generally.Objectives: This article shares the authors’ reflections on tailoring realist evaluation approaches for use with community-based norms-shifting programmes. It describes how realist evaluation enables co-building of programme theory that conceptually underpins NSIs, guides evaluation efforts and yields benefits beyond theory-proving.Method: Two NSIs in Niger and Senegal illustrate how locally refined theories of change (TOC) and identification of evidence gaps in causal pathways guided a series of rapid programme and quasi-experimental outcome studies. Over two years externally and internally led studies assessed intermediate or mediating norms-shifting effects and outcomes comprising the realist evaluation. Studies drew from experiential, existing and new data.Results: The tailored approach created a co-owned evaluation, from joint exploration of SBC theory to review of evidence generation. Five values applied to the research–practice partnerships reinforced a realist perspective: participatory, complexity, shared ownership, practice-oriented and valuing all forms of data.Conclusion: Bounded by TOC exploration for programme inquiry, realist evaluation embeds learning and assessment concretely into local programming and knowledge building. Integrating evaluation practice with realism values creates a nexus and a unique and significant dynamic between programme implementers and evaluators that transcends NSI research and programme practice.

An application of the nonprofit virtual accountability index: Accountability in sport for development and peace

AbstractIn this research note, we examine web‐based accountability practices of human service nonprofits. Data were collected directly from the organizational websites of an international sample of 532 organizations involved in operating sport for social change programs, more commonly known as the field of sport for development and peace. Websites were coded using the nonprofit virtual accountability index—a theoretically grounded and robust tool—to measure information and interactivity available for stakeholders across five dimensions of accountability. Analyses of variance and independent t‐tests were used to test potential group differences based on geographical region, the thematic types of social change efforts, and the type of sport used to deliver programming. The results of this analysis highlight the critical importance of geographical location and other organizational variables for web‐based accountability practices. Furthermore, the results allow nonprofit leaders to identify common areas in need of improvement for smaller and emerging nonprofits.

When Less is More: A Short-form Tool to Increase Segmentation Implementation

Background Segmentation remains underutilised in social marketing research and practice. Simple segmentation tools that are easy to administer and simple for audience members to complete may increase the use of segmentation across the social marketing process. Focus of the Article Segmentation is a foundational marketing principle which allows marketers to tailor marketing activity to the needs of specific groups (segments). Evidence shows that behaviour change is more likely when more principles are used, yet segmentation remains underutilised. Data-driven methods are used to identify segments based on several variables collected via surveys, but they take time, require large sample sizes and technical analyses; and can be costly and time consuming. Importance to the Field Simple diagnostic tools are needed to simplify data collection and increase the use of key social marketing principles such as segmentation. Methods Three studies were conducted to create and verify a short diagnostic segmentation tool and later refine a tool that reflects contemporary social marketing practice. The first employed multiple linear regression to predict segment membership based on previously performed two-step cluster analysis. The second applied the tool to another data set to verify whether the tool could predict segment membership accurately. The final study delivers a short diagnostic tool following the same development approach to a data set drawn from a larger sample that included objective measures ensuring focus moved beyond how individuals think and feel. Results Segments in the first study had been defined by five variables (derived from 16 survey questions). The tool was able to predict segment membership to a high level of accuracy from five questions. In the second study the tool was used to predict segments, which had high correspondence to the segments identified in that analysis, which was also based on five variables (16 questions). The third study extended development to an analysis using 16 defining variables, based on 40 survey questions. The final tool predicted segment membership to a high degree of accuracy based on five survey questions. Recommendations for Research or Practice Segmentation is important for developing understanding that enables social marketers to design social change programs to meet the needs of more people. This simple tool developed and verified within and across samples has potential to simplify data collection enabling greater uptake of segmentation in social marketing practice. The final tool incorporated objective measures to ensure segmentation moves beyond the myopic consumer focus that has dominated social marketing. Future research could use the approach in this paper to derive short diagnostic tools with a broader range of behavioural contexts and with more diverse populations. Limitations The behavioural measures used in these studies were self-report measures, and the use of a more objective measure would further strengthen both the segmentation analysis and short diagnostic tool.

Exploring Engaged Spirituality through Martial Arts

In this article, through a carnal and participant approach to ethnography, we consider the pedagogical repertoires of Boxe Popolare (a style of boxing codified by Italian leftist grassroots groups) and Odaka Yoga (an innovative type of postural yoga blended with martial arts elements). We provide a close reading of what we call the pedagogies of engagement cultivated by these two practices, appreciating how their underlying spiritual philosophies are internalized in self-reflective projects oriented towards societal transformation. Our analysis draws from Pierrre Bourdieu’s dispositional sociology and the concept of “body pedagogics”. With regards to this framework, we explore the physical-spiritual apprenticeship to Boxe Popolare and Odaka Yoga in relation to the rise of a series of engaged dispositions, which bring practitioners to conceive of their own transformation as a way to encourage social change and support social justice programmes. More specifically, we emphasize the ritual dimensions of these practices, their forms of commitment, and finally their ambivalences regarding contemporary neoliberal governmentality and societal transformation. We conclude by reflecting on how the neoliberal character of contemporary martial activities, too often simply assumed, is socially reproduced—in practice— via specific processes of knowledge transmission; and calling for more attention to the overlaps between different social fields.

Psychosocial influences on pregnancy and childbirth behaviours in north-western Nigeria: a cross-sectional analysis.

Antenatal care (ANC) and facility delivery are essential maternal health services, but uptake remains low in north-western Nigeria. This study aimed to assess the psychosocial influences on pregnancy and childbirth behaviours in Nigeria. Data were from a cross-sectional population-based survey of randomly sampled women with a child under 2 years conducted in Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states of north-western Nigeria in September 2019. Women were asked about their maternal health behaviours during their last pregnancy. Psychosocial metrics were developed using the Ideation Model of Strategic Communication and Behaviour Change. Predicted probabilities for visiting ANC four or more times (ANC4+) and giving birth in a facility were derived using mixed-effects logistic regression models adjusted for ideational and socio-demographic variables. Among the 3039 sample women, 23.6% (95% CI: 18.0-30.3%) attended ANC4+ times and 15.5% (95% CI: 11.8-20.1%) gave birth in a facility. Among women who did not attend ANC4+ times or have a facility-based delivery during their last pregnancy, the most commonly cited reasons for non-use were lack of perceived need (42% and 67%, respectively) and spousal opposition (25% and 27%, respectively). Women who knew any ANC benefit or the recommended number of ANC visits were 3.2 and 2.1 times more likely to attend ANC4+ times, respectively. Women who held positive views about health facilities for childbirth had 1.2 and 2.6 times higher likelihood of attending ANC4+ times and having a facility delivery, respectively, while women who believed ANC was only for sickness or pregnancy complications had a 17% lower likelihood of attending ANC4+ times. Self-efficacy and supportive spousal influence were also significantly associated with both outcomes. To improve pregnancy and childbirth practices in north-western Nigeria, Social and Behavioural Change programmes could address a range of psychosocial factors across cognitive, emotional and social domains which have been found in this study to be significantly associated with pregnancy and childbirth behaviours: raising knowledge and dispelling myths, building women's confidence to access services, engaging spousal support in decision-making and improving perceived (and actual) maternal health services quality.

Stand-Alone Conditional Cash Transfer in Regards to Reducing Stunting in Indonesia: Evidence From a Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to investigate the connection between conditional cash transfers (CCTs) and stunting and identify the factors contributing to stunting among Indonesia’s poor. The analysis relies on the data collected in 2007 and 2009. Infants aged 0–36 months from families receiving CCTs were compared with a control group using the randomized controlled trial (RCT) method. These infants from poor households, who were stunted, and were not exclusively breastfed, were selected randomly. The data were analyzed using logistic regression with the STATA program (v.13). The research findings show that CCTs alone can not impact the prevalence of stunting. In order to optimize the effectiveness of the CCT scheme, factors related to the mother’s age at childbirth, education, employment, the sex of the household head, and the geographic condition should be taken into account. This research would reinforce the need for CCT programs linked closely in design with effective social behavior change programs. The study recommends further research examining how CCT would impact stunting among groups in low-income families.

Knowledge and Practice of Dietary Diversity among Pregnant Women: Evaluation of a Large Scale Social and Behaviour Change Program in Bangladesh

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) supported large-scale social and behaviour change (SBC) intervention, SHIKHA Project, in improving dietary diversity among pregnant women. Cross-sectional survey was conducted in rural southwest Bangladesh and 509, 515, and 1,275 randomly selected pregnant women were interviewed at baseline, midline, and end-line; 514 and 1016 pregnant women from non-intervention areas were also included. SBC intervention was provided to pregnant women at both individual and group levels by trained community health workers during the antenatal and postnatal period. Dietary diversity scores (DDS) and knowledge scores were calculated by summing the number of food groups (from nine defined food groups) consumed by women during 24 hours and from unprompted responses on how many food groups pregnant women should eat. The mean knowledge score for dietary diversity was 5.04 at baseline and significantly increased by 1.68 units (95% CI: 1.51, 1.85) at the end-line. The mean DDS at baseline was 4.28 and significantly increased by 0.45 units (95% CI: 0.34, 0.57) at the end-line. The SBC intervention was effective in improving the dietary diversity of pregnant women, which may help to meet their additional nutritional requirements and improve pregnancy outcomes. Bangladesh J. Nutr. Vol. 34, December 2020, P: 65-75

Developing a programme theory for the Systemic Practice Model in children's social care: Key informants' perspectives

AbstractVague programme descriptions are known to impede implementation and evaluation. Yet social work change programmes often fail to describe in detail how they aim to provide better outcomes for children and families. This study focused on the Systemic Practice Model (SPM), which is a Finnish adaptation of Reclaiming Social Work, a practice model developed in England. The SPM aims to deliver systemic practice in children's social care and has recently been widely disseminated across Finland. However, research has found both considerable variation in its delivery and a lack of clarity about what it is. This study, applying realist evaluation, aimed to formulate a programme theory based on the perceptions of key informants (n = 12) involved in the national development and dissemination of the SPM during the period 2017–2019. The analysis yielded three core components (a systemic team, systemic weekly meetings, and systemic practice) and two context‐mechanism‐outcome (CMO) configurations, which represent causal chains of the SPM. The findings should enable its quality implementation and meaningful outcome and process evaluation. The findings will also aid organizations and practitioners both to identify changes required in their service provision and prevent adverse effects. This programme theory should be tested and refined with empirical data.

Understanding family planning outcomes in northwestern Nigeria: analysis and modeling of social and behavior change factors

BackgroundNorthwestern Nigeria faces a situation of high fertility and low contraceptive use, driven in large part by high-fertility norms, pro-natal cultural and religious beliefs, misconceptions about contraceptive methods, and gender inequalities. Social and behavior change (SBC) programs often try to shift drivers of high fertility through multiple channels including mass and social media, as well as community-level group, and interpersonal activities. This study seeks to assist SBC programs to better tailor their efforts by assessing the effects of intermediate determinants of contraceptive use/uptake and by demonstrating their potential impacts on contraceptive use, interpersonal communication with partners, and contraceptive approval.MethodsData for this study come from a cross-sectional household survey, conducted in the states of Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara in northwestern Nigeria in September 2019, involving 3000 women aged 15 to 49 years with a child under 2 years. Using an ideational framework of behavior that highlights psychosocial influences, mixed effects logistic regression analyses assess associations between ideational factors and family planning outcomes, and post-estimation simulations with regression coefficients model the magnitude of effects for these intermediate determinants.ResultsKnowledge, approval of family planning, and social influences, particularly from husbands, were all associated with improved family planning outcomes. Approval of family planning was critical – women who personally approve of family planning were nearly three times more likely to be currently using modern contraception and nearly six times more likely to intend to start use in the next 6 m. Husband’s influence was also critical. Women who had ever talked about family planning with their husbands were three times more likely both to be currently using modern contraception and to intend to start in the next 6 m.ConclusionSBC programs interested in improving family planning outcomes could potentially achieve large gains in contraceptive use—even without large-scale changes in socio-economic and health services factors—by designing and implementing effective SBC interventions that improve knowledge, encourage spousal/partner communication, and work towards increasing personal approval of family planning. Uncertainty about the time-order of influencers and outcomes however precludes inferences about the existence of causal relationships and the potential for impact from interventions.

Applying Social Norms Theory for Improved Nutrition Outcomes: A Case Study of JEEViKA Self Help Groups.

This paper demonstrates that malnutrition among children under the age of 5 years can be addressed by disseminating information and social and behaviour change communication. This paper discusses a social and behavioural change program implemented through a women’s self-help group under JEEViKA run by the Government of Bihar.

Evaluating Complex Interventions Using Qualitative Longitudinal Research: A Case Study of Understanding Pathways to Violence Prevention.

Evaluating social change programs requires methods that account for changes in context, implementation, and participant experience. We present a case study of a school-based partner violence prevention program with young people, where we conducted 33 repeat interviews with nine participants during and after an intervention and analyzed participant trajectories. We show how repeat interviews conducted during and after a social change program were useful in helping us understand how the intervention worked by providing rich contextual information, elucidating gradual shifts among participants, and identifying aspects of the intervention that appear to influence change. Long-term effects of social change interventions are very hard to quantify or measure directly. We argue that a qualitative longitudinal approach provides a way to measure subtle changes that can serve as proxies for longer term impacts.