Social science as social action to address inequalities

Zoe Staines; Kiah Smith; Stefanie Plage; Lutfun Nahar Lata; Suzanna Fay; Zhaoxi Zheng; Laura Simpson Reeves; Helen Beazley; Ella Kuskoff; Andrew Clarke; Glenys McGowan; Lynda Shevellar; Jonathan Prangnell

doi:10.1002/ajs4.272

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Social science as social action to address inequalities

Journal article

Open access

Social science as social action to address inequalities

Zoe Staines, Kiah Smith, Stefanie Plage, Lutfun Nahar Lata, Suzanna Fay, Zhaoxi Zheng, Laura Simpson Reeves, Helen Beazley, Ella Kuskoff, Andrew Clarke, …

The Australian journal of social issues, Vol.59(1), pp.108-127

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.272

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Abstract

Social Issues

Social Sciences

In its most recent report, the Academy of the Social Sciences Australia (ASSA, 2021: 10) identified social inequality as a "grand challenge" for the social sciences, arguing that social scientists have a pivotal role to play in "understanding, addressing and guiding us towards a narrowing of a two-tier society." Nevertheless, the social sciences continue to be regularly positioned as "soft" and esoteric in relation to the natural sciences, while also sustaining disproportionate funding cuts. In this article, we-a multidisciplinary group of social science researchers forming part of the Inequalities and Social Action Research Cluster based at The University of Queensland (Australia)-draw on the existing literature and our diverse experiences to reflexively consider how academic social scientists might play the active role that ASSA foresees to address social inequalities into the future. This includes by countering the inherent imperialism of the Western academy itself. We explore the roles, barriers and tensions that social scientists face and conclude by offering a framework of key strategies to improve the translational impacts of social science research for addressing social inequalities.

Details

Title: Social science as social action to address inequalities
Authors/Creators: Zoe Staines (Author) - The University of Queensland
Kiah Smith (Author) - The University of Queensland
Stefanie Plage (Author) - ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course
Lutfun Nahar Lata (Author) - The University of Queensland
Suzanna Fay (Author) - The University of Queensland
Zhaoxi Zheng (Author) - The University of Queensland
Laura Simpson Reeves (Author) - The University of Queensland
Helen Beazley (Author) - The University of Queensland
Ella Kuskoff (Author) - The University of Queensland
Andrew Clarke (Author) - UNSW Sydney
Glenys McGowan (Author) - The University of Queensland
Lynda Shevellar (Author) - The University of Queensland
Jonathan Prangnell (Author) - The University of Queensland
Publication Details: The Australian journal of social issues, Vol.59(1), pp.108-127
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Social Policy Association.
Number of pages: 20
Identifiers: 991005860593407891
Murdoch Affiliation: Murdoch University
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 10 Arts & Humanities; 10.144 Modern History; 10.144.1621 Settler Colonialism
Web Of Science research areas: Social Issues
ESI research areas: Social Sciences, general