Embarking on a journey to enhance our health behaviors can be a daunting and unfamiliar path with psychological barriers that seem almost impossible to achieve at times. However, by leveraging insights from established theories like the Health Belief Model (HB<) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we can discover effective strategies for initiating and maintain health behavior changes. These models clarify how our personal beliefs about health risks and the potential benefits of change, combined with social influences and our perceived control over behaviors, play critical roles in sh ..read more

When I first heard the term participatory action research (PAR), thoughts of making protest signs, and marching in the streets ran through my mind. I have activism in my blood, I cannot help but be loud about my beliefs, to incite change where it must occur. I have been tear-gassed, shot at, and fought my way through the mess that policies have saddled us with, trying to appeal to others to see the present or enduring injustice. So, when I began reading this week’s materials I was enticed, I could now name what I had done, and what I continue to do, but now with a purpose beyond my feelings, o ..read more

In Lesson 13, we learned about social change research, which is when “the researcher(s) are actively changing something in a social situation that they are a part of.” An issue that social change research could help is with environmental issues such as climate change, and both the participatory and activist aspects of social change research are relevant. Researchers could start by performing participatory research, which the lesson notes defines as “when the researchers are a part of the community or other social situation and are vested in trying to learn something about an issue in that comm ..read more

Social change is an important aspect in society. As a whole, if there is a collective issue it typically takes one person with an idea to gather a group in order to create a social change agenda. Walden University discusses that there are four major ways that social change can impact a society.  One that Walden University (n.d.) mentions is practicing random acts of kindness, such as simple manners. For example if someone holds the door for someone it may have a strong impact on their day leading them to do this simple act on another person. Also this takes very little effort and can actu ..read more

Activism research is vital when it comes to politics or any topic that could have different points of view. This type of research has become more common due to the internet. Approximately 72% of Americans use social media and 84% of young adults have at least one social media site. Online activism relies on “weak-tie relationships” this is where individuals don’t know each other and there is minimal interaction. This allows younger generations to exercise their civil rights without much effort. Some examples of weak-tie relationship are signing a petition, wearing a bracelet, or just liking a ..read more

Social change is the way human interactions and relationships transform cultural and social institutions over time, having a profound impact on society (Dunfey, 2023). Social change research involves researchers actively changing something in a social situation they are part of. Participatory research involves researchers being part of a community or social situation, vested in learning about an issue with the intended goal of solving the problem. This approach can be seen as conflict of interest, as scientists may be tempted to alter findings to reach their goals. Classical science, on t ..read more

In a world grappling with complex social issues, the need for innovative approaches to research and action is more pressing than ever. Enter Participatory Action Research (PAR), a methodology that not only studies social change but actively engages communities in the process of transformation. In this blog post, we explore the evolution, principles, and potential of PAR in driving positive social change, drawing insights from Mary Brydon-Miller’s seminal article on the subject (Brydon-Miller, 1997). Understanding Participatory Action Research: PAR is not your conventional research paradigm. It ..read more

Have you ever wondered how communities can come together to effectively respond to the pressing issue of homelessness? In a perfect world, we would see individuals, organizations, and policymakers come together and make changes that would fix the issue of homelessness. Social change research plays a crucial role in understanding community responses and making sure we are coming up with effective solutions. According to an article I found online, the definition of homelessness is usually a person that has no permanent home (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021). The article mentioned that many schola ..read more

Social change is the restructuring of the social structure within the community through revisions to social structures, interactions, and behavior. It involves social evolution, in which traditions are modified by society to bring about a needed change. To ensure that the modification that is needed is successful, it is important to adapt to developmental psychology. It is the outcome of several elements that contribute to the shift and make it unavoidable.Due to the availability of greater understanding in the community, social transformation results in heightened awareness and comprehension ..read more

By Stephanie Aud Walk into any restaurant, and you’ll likely see a familiar scene: families sitting together, yet apart, as each person dives into their digital world. Parents might be scrolling through their Facebook feeds while their children are engrossed in the newest viral TikTok. In an era dominated by digital technology, social media has become a central platform for communication, significantly altering family relationships. While it holds the potential to enhance connectivity, bringing distant relatives closer and sharing moments instantly, its pervasive influence also raises concerns ..read more