Theories of Science and Research
6. Change-Oriented Research
Andrew Jamison
Change-Oriented Research

Problem-driven, rather than disciplinary-driven

A focus on processes of social change

Reflective, and often interventionist ambition

Participatory, dialogue methods (e.g. focus groups)

Engagement, or involvement in what is studied
Roots in Action Research

outgrowth of ”old social movements”

related to urban reform and labor struggles

neighborhood, or factory focus

science as a form of social advocacy

”making visible” and ”giving voice”
and Technology Assessment

outgrowth of student revolts and nuclear energy debates

focus on social and environmental consequences of
technology

citizen-expert communication, or ”communicative
rationality” (Habermas)

consensus conference as influential Danish model
and Participatory Rural Appraisal

a form of development research

focus on competence building

emphasis on popular participation

”conscientization” (Friere)

”putting people first” (Chambers)
Degrees of involvement

partisanship, identification: ”taking sides”

participation, critical friendship: ”helping out”

professional detachment, academic distance:
”giving advice”
Varieties of case study

microcosm approach: the case as a world of
its own

comparative approach: the case as
representative of a broader pattern

exemplary approach: the case as a ”good
example” or ”best practice”
Types of processes studied

ongoing processes: research as
intervention, or interactive assessment

finished processes: research as evaluation,
or reactive asessment

future processes: research as forecasting,
or foresighting
The Researcher’s Role
 ”fly
on the wall”
 ”spider
in the web”
 ”queen
bee in the honeycomb”
”Fly on the wall”

traditional academic ideal

researcher as participatory observer

neutral, detached role

a kind of critical, objective story-telling

scientific narrative approach
”Spider in the web”

pragmatic, democratic ideal

researcher as facilitator

normative, participatory role

”constructive” story-telling

dramaturgical narrative approach
”Queen bee in the honeycomb”

managerial, leadership ideal

researcher as catalyst, or change agent

expert consultant, advisory role

”reconstructive” story-telling

evaluative narrative approach
In search of green knowledge

my own change-oriented research

about environmental politics and cultural transformation

combining sociology, history and cultural theory

trying to bridge the gap between nature and society

an attempt to cultivate the hybrid imagination
Here’s what we wanted
to understand
Tvindmøllen
1977-1978
And here’s what we found:
a paradigm conflict
”Political Process”
”New Social Movements”
resource mobilization
collective identity
instrumental action
symbolic action
practical orientation
theoretical orientation
American emphasis
European emphasis
...and here’s what we
came up with: the
cognitive approach

focus on movements as knowledge makers

process, or practice orientation

comparative, or contextual ambition

dialectical method, identification of tensions
Social Movements as
Knowledge Makers

temporary spaces, or sites for collective learning

integrating theory and practice: ”cognitive praxis”

fostering hybrid forms of agency, or imagination

places where ”movement intellectuals” are formed
Dimensions of Cognitive Praxis

The cosmological dimension:
world-view assumptions, shared visions or values

The technological dimension:
practical activities, forms of action and technical work

The organizational dimension:
situational context, spaces of interaction and communication
The Cognitive Praxis
of Environmental Movements

Cosmological dimension:
systemic holism, ”limits to growth”

Technological dimension:
appropriateness, ”small is beautiful”

Organizational dimension:
collective learning sites, ”citizen science”
The Making of Green Knowledge
Awakening: 1960s
• Public education, criticizing (big) science
Organization: 1970-1980s
• Social movements, appropriate technology
Normalization: 1990s
• Sustainable development, green business
Globalization: 2000s• Dealing with climate change – and the skeptics!
Elements of Green Knowledge

collective forms of knowledge making

change, or action-oriented

hybrid, or eclectic identities

integrative, or interdisciplinary

narrative form of dissemination: ”telling stories”