Translating Social Research for Public Audiences to Advance Social Justice

• In Event: 1223 - Practice Symposium- Translating Sociological Insights to Broader Audiences

Abstract

Sociologists are adept at engaging in debate about the nuances of our theories and methods with one another, but we are less practiced at explaining the general value and practical importance of our research to members of the public and policymakers. However, recent shifts in public discourse indicate the critical importance of effective communication about social science research. Fortunately, creating an engaging and informative public-facing communications strategy doesn’t need to be a guessing game. Social science is itself a powerful diagnostic as well as prognostic tool.

The FrameWorks Institute is a non-profit think tank that advances issue advocates’ communications capacity by helping them framing the public discourse on social problems. Our research approach is empirically-driven and draws on theories and methods within sociology and other related disciplines, in order to develop effective framing strategies and then test their effects on public thinking. We propose to conduct a workshop designed to help sociologists across the field translate their research for nonacademic audiences towards the goal of cultivating the general public’s sociological imagination, and promoting a social justice lens. The workshop will:

• Highlight key findings from our research on translating social scientific research;
• Offer clear recommendations about which communications strategies to use, which to avoid, and why;
• Engage participants to think strategically about making their research available and
actionable for non-academic audiences; and
• Offer concrete examples of empirically-grounded framing strategies in critical areas, such as immigration, criminal justice, and economic integration, where sociologists have deep knowledge and expertise.

The current political climate requires that sociologists be strategic about how they talk about their research. This workshop would assist with that mission and provide participants with the tools they need to navigate the increasingly difficult terrain of public discourse about the social sciences and social justice.

Authors

• Jessica Renee Moyer, FrameWorks Institute

• Moira E. O'Neil, FrameWorks Institute

• Marisa Gerstein Pineau, FrameWorks Institute