Research for Social Justice, 2nd Edition: A Community-Based Participatory Approach

Most social research texts are written from an empiricist/positivist perspective, emphasizing the scientific method and the value of objectivity in research. While acknowledging that certain aspects of the scientific method should be preserved, Adje van de Sande and Karen Schwartz argue that social research should not and cannot be value-free. Researchers committed to social justice and social change need to support that commitment.

This new edition of Research for Social Justice examines how the structural inequality perspective and anti-oppressive principles — which view the problems experienced by people as rooted in the social, political and economic structures of society — provide this support. Also included in this edition are updated and revised examples of research, a substantially revised chapter on Indigenous approaches to research, a chapter-by- chapter description of developing student projects in a research course and examples of student-led, community-based research projects.

Adje van de Sande is an associate professor at the School of Social Work at Carleton University.

Karen Schwartz is an associate professor at the School of Social Work at Carleton University.