Methodological Reflections on Researching Communication and Social Change

This book identifies the strengths and weaknesses of different methodological approaches to research in communication and social change. It examines the methodological opportunities and challenges occasioned by rapid technological affordances and society-wide transformations. This study provides grounded insights on these issues from a broad range of proficient academics and experienced practitioners. Overall, the different contributions address four key themes: a critical evaluation of different ethnographic approaches in researching communication for/and social change; a critical appraisal of visual methodologies and theatre for development research; a methodological appraisal of different participatory approaches to researching social change; and a critical examination of underlying assumptions of knowledge production within the dominant strands of methodological approaches to researching social change. In addressing these issues through a critical reflection of the methodological decisions and implications of their research projects, the contributors in this book offer perspectives that are highly relevant for students, researchers and practitioners within the broad field of communication for/and social change.

Autorentext

Norbert Wildermuth is Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Arts (DCA) at Roskilde University, Denmark.

Teke Ngomba is Associate Professor in the Department of Media and Journalism Studies at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Inhalt
1.Introduction: Norbert Wildermuth and Teke Ngomba.- 2.Involving communities as skilled learners: The STRAP framework: Chiara Milan & Stefania Milan.- 3.Doing research across cultures: a deconstruction of post-positivistic research projects: Poul Erik Nielsen.- 4.Local Folktales on the Radio: Orature and Action Research: Jonas Agerbaek.- 5.The theory and practice of photo elicitation among the San Khomani of the Southern Kalahari: Linje Manyozo.- 6.Visual interventions: film, ethnography and social change: Lajos Varhegyi, Richard Ndunguru, Søren Sønderstrup, Anders Høg Hansen.- 7.Countering malnutrition: participatory intervention as an act of revelation: Zeenath Hasan.- 8.Ethnography of open cultural production: From participant observation to multi-sited participatory communication: Julia Velkova.- 9.Writing and methodology: Literary texts as ethnographic data and creative writing as a means of investigation: Oscar Hemer.- 10.Take the pill, discuss the issues and act: using RCT, FGDs and PAR to evaluate a media entrepreneurship programme in Tanzania: Linda Helgesson Sekei, Naomi Benny Lugoe & Karen Marie Thulstrup.- 11.Conclusion: Norbert Wildermuth and Teke Ngomba.