Study on the Impact of Social Change

Major Assignment II

Background information

Social change is inevitable in a diverse society. Researchers past and present raise profound questions about the need and cause of social change and whether the transformation is continuously for the better. The manifestation of “social change” has been branded and studied within many universities as an academic pedigree. The social issue is a non-exclusive term related to the scope of conditions and abnormal conducts deemed to be signs of social disruption. It is a state which countless individuals in our society think of as objectionable and must to be altered by shifting some methods of social development. Social change has many causes which are sometimes intentional, but often unplanned; while at other times social change is controversial. As a result, a changing society inevitably generates problems. In a unified society, it is declared, there would be no social issue in light of the circumstance that in such culture all institutions and behavior would be properly harmonized and characterized as acceptable by the estimations of society (Kezar, 2014).

Societies in the United States and internationally are in a constant course of the disorder and reorganization of social change. Tension and conflict in a societal dispute are a part of the price tag of social change. Eras of ideas bring about change and also play a significant role in the direction of social changes that may result in the imbalance and disorganization of the formal system in a community. Thought-out our land, corporate accountability beyond making a profit is concerned with the company’s obligation by developing a plan that will add to the sustainable, cost-effective way of respecting all its shareholders ethically and professionally by holding themselves liable for the outcome (Cavico, 2013). The chief object of corporate accountability beyond making a profit is for businesses to link themselves in social changes relative to solely concentrate their efforts and activities unrelated to making a profit.  These and numerous different situations related is social change giving rise to fluctuated social issues (Aguinis et al., 2012). Hence, both are decisively mutual in their association. Sociologists echo that social change consists of the shifting attitude of Corporate America leading to a subsequent transformation in social changes that unite a society. For example, the aspect of diversity is a social issue that has resulted in subsequent social implications prompted by the interaction of individuals from different cultural backgrounds, corporations, and state and local stakeholders. This situation started on the subsequent ever-changing of norms and other cultures climaxing in profound social effects on the society. Social change as a research problem in corporate accountability suggests that one can practice systematic techniques to explore different implications of social change. This assists in examining factors attributable to social change, enhancing the ability to analyze and understand the element that leads to either positive or negative social implication in a specified group of people (Smith, 2015).

Nonetheless, social change as a research problem fosters the capacity to determine various forces towards a visible change and essential characteristic in a bid to find solutions to the prominent social issues. Lastly, social change as a research problem heightens the ability to build knowledge towards evidence-based social change, providing rational and applicable arguments about an issue leading to a social change in society. On the other hand, regardless of the growing evidence of social change in higher education, students in the institutions of higher education view the ideas and agenda of social change differently. This element adds to social severe change perception gap among students, resulting in an adverse effect on higher education.

Based on this topic, I still feel that there is a gap in clarifying the benefits recognized for the positive social change activities. Many reasons have been offered with no adequate support or evidence. There is a need to explore further information from the general community, the practitioners of the positive social change activities as well as experts in the area. This study fits well under qualitative study based on the fact that it is exploratory research. By studying this phenomenon, there is the likelihood of coming up with the reasons underlying the positive social change, opinions as well as motivations. This topic of study has got the capability of creating a hypothesis or ideas for potential quantitative study. In other words, it meets all the necessities of qualitative studies, hence making it fit for the same. The outcomes of such study could aid the purpose of social change, not only for the ultimate peace amid society, but also as a mechanism to release human potential possible restricted by cultural restrictions (Rothaermel, (2015). 

The significance of social change for Walden graduate students is to be capable of turn into agents of change, to offer the academic foundations to withstand critical dialogue to provide resolution for society’s pressing issues. The investigation of my diagnostic memos, transcriptions, and the examination developed to reach an objective supposition systematically; I notice that the procedure has fashioned my reflexivity and the start of my academic career. I know the duty that being an interviewer involves, revealed not only regarding the needed privacy, but also the seriousness consciousness of oneself (Healy & Perry, 2000). With this mindfulness I completely understand that I am the creator of the space in which my interviewee participates; this reveals the relationship and management of power.

The scrutiny of the memos, transcripts and the content analysis utilized to reach an objective decision methodically, by looking at the process has formed my reflexivity and the start of my academic career in general. It is a big responsibility that being an interviewer entails, exposed not only concerning the needed discretion but also in the consciousness of oneself, myself (Healy & Perry, 2000). Under such awareness I realize that I am the creator of the space in which my interviewee participates; this reveals the relationship and management of power which is so significant in a qualitative method.

 The participant fully understood the questions in the interview. I get that such influence needs to be given to the participant, or society. I understand that the use of my power is devoted to an objective, not to my inquiries (Rubin & Rubin, 2011). Competence is the word that best defines the concept that became alive in me, its notion, its nature, and its invitation.

During the data collection developments, I realized the persistence is required to withstand my exploration in rigor. One cannot make a mistake in the interpretation of the message; one has to be objective and vibrantly attentive to the movements of my mind. It is crucial because I cannot project my ideas, something that is done often carelessly, in a stress-free milieu. However, That is not the situation in qualitative research, where the observer has to cognize and respect, the distance of what is perceived.

The critical researcher that thinks that qualitative research deficiencies do not have the rigor of the mathematics and their power of generalization. However, such work can easily be replaced by computers. Qualitative studies can reveal a rich pond of data that necessarily requires the interpretation of a talented mind.

The data sources were for the information collection, one of them was Walden’s online video library, and I observed the conversations and downloaded the transcriptions.  The data were collected and need to be analyzed. Next source, my phone interview with a woman proved to be profound. The interview was conducted and designed by me, but the merit is in the eloquence of my source. The interview lasted 15 minutes, which is the section that was recorded and transcribed. However, the entire interview lasted more than an hour, but I struggled with breathing issues and oxygen challenges during the entire process. I attempted to focus, but the pains of this disease overwhelmed me.

Trustworthiness and Summary

The different sources (Walden’s video transcriptions, Walden’s Social Change website and Semi-structured Interview) had very different themes. The Walden’s material certainly shares commonalities given the same subject that they explore. For example, in the Interview 2, with Jackie Kundert, the categories are mainly related to drug abuse, but the theme is better represented by “community in action” (including drug abuse, but also other community problems). In the same way, Interview ‘1, “Can We Create Social Change Without Money?” the same theme is to be found, two particular categories demonstrate this: “social change can come from different sources,” and “distribute messages.” Both interviews share the theme community in action.

The source that has a different theme is the Semi-Structured Interview that I conducted through the phone. As it has been stated before, the adequate theme is a New cost-effective approach to health care delivery services; using personal coaches to prevent expensive emergency interventions. An extended version of what could be named, a new model of preventive health care.  The analysis of my phone interview, the credit can be recognized by the availability of parallel frequencies of communication, sharing the same subject (Ravitch & Carl, 2016). In this sense, the data is not new, but it is not well distributed.

The trustworthiness of the claims of the study can easily be validated through the independent press. This same condition allows the analysis to be transferable, at least within the American health care system. The model that was discussed in the interview can be found in different States, and new studies are emerging, demonstrating that the conclusion reached by the analysis is correct. With proper referencing to the new research and news articles, it is possible to give the analysis confirmability. All these elements bring about a sense of integral arrival to the understanding of a recent phenomenon.

Summary

Based on the results of the analyses, the meaning of social change for Walden graduate students is the transformation of society through action, projects that address problem not just theoretically, but in the very ground where the problem exists. Talking to victims, perpetrators, idealists, concerned citizens, etc., with the friction of such contacts the Walden graduate students develop strategies to address such problems, utilizing the research methods that they have learned in the educational institution.

My understanding of me as a positive social change agent has changed in the sense that I realize now that the researcher is not confined to an office, working with papers and computers, but it is necessary to go out. It is necessary to confront the social problems, to experience them and then become an active part of the solution. With the academic background obtained through the education program, I can contribute to the development of projects based on evidence-based research. I see I go, I learn, I do.

Based on my review of the three articles on social change, the one that is aligned with my interests regarding social change is Transforming “Apathy Into Movement”: The Role of Prosocial Emotions in Motivating Action for Social Change” by Emma F. Thomas, Craig McGarty and Kenneth I. Mavor. The reason for such selection is that I realize that the main social problem that is necessary to address is the participation of the people. Without such participation, with apathy, it is impossible to move any project forward, and therefore I reflect citizenship apathy as the main problem in social change research.

References

• Aguinis, H., & Glavas, A. (2012). What we know and don’t know about corporate social responsibility: A review and research agenda. Journal of Management, 38(4), 932–968.
• Cavico, F. J. (2013). Corporate social responsibility. Carrollton, KY: iLead Academy.
• Crane, A. (2008). The Oxford handbook of corporate social responsibility. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
• Healy, M., & Perry, C. (2000). Comprehensive criteria to judge the validity and reliability of qualitative research within the realism paradigm. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 3(3), 118–126.
• Kezar, A. (2014). Higher education changes and social networks: A review of the research. Journal of Higher Education, 85(1), 91–125.
• Rothaermel, F. T. (2015). Strategic management. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
• Smith, J. A. (Ed.). (2015). Qualitative psychology: A applied guide to research methods. Sage.