Advancing social change in South Africa through transformative research

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe role of researchers in a context of adversity can be expanded in ways that increase their ability to contribute to positive social change. By using a transformative mixed methods approach to research, social transformation is built into the research process by framing research in a human rights and social justice way that supports community-based action to solve problems. Examples from South Africa and elsewhere illustrate the application of the transformative paradigm to research and on-going challenges that researchers face in addressing so-called wicked problems, such as human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/Aids), violence and poverty.Keywords: transformative researchhuman rightssocial justiceviolencepoverty Additional informationNotes on contributorsDonna M. MertensDONNA M. MERTENS is a Professor Emeritus from Gallaudet University, Washington, DC. Her research interests are in transformative research methodologies applied in contexts of conflict and adversity. Her publications include Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods; Program evaluation theory and practice (with Amy Wilson), and Transformative research and evaluation.