A researcher’s guide to making the world
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2025 4:16 am
We’ve asked our #DataImpactFellows to write a post on the theme of ‘change’.
Here, Bozena Wielgoszewska shares her guide to making the world a better place.
Creating social change is not easy.
It involves changing the status quo, dislodging russia rcs data existing dogma and power structures, and developing new habits and conventions.
It requires time, persistence, and support from a variety of stakeholders, who often have conflicting interests.
Despite all these obstacles, change is inevitable. We live in the era of unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and political turmoil. However, as often emphasised by the creators of Gapminder, on a global scale far fewer people live in extreme poverty, we have higher income and we live longer. COVID-19 prompted communities to look after its most vulnerable members, swans have returned to the canals of Venice, and air pollution is diminishing.
While change often happens regardless (or even against) our wishes, there are aspects of society to which researchers can contribute, by providing evidence, creating understanding, or advocating for change where it is needed, usually by following these three steps.
Step 1: Ask the right questions
Good research questions are timely, contemporary, clearly formulated, feasible, relevant, and aim to make the world a better place.
A thoughtful Bozena in Times Square
Image: a thoughtful Bozena in Times Square, New York
Asking such questions is difficult, because it requires an extensive understanding about the current state of knowledge in the field.
This is where a comprehensive systematic literature review and listening to the advice of your mentors is often useful. Although saying “I don’t know” may be outside of your comfort zone, this should be the answer to your research question at this stage of the process.
Here, Bozena Wielgoszewska shares her guide to making the world a better place.
Creating social change is not easy.
It involves changing the status quo, dislodging russia rcs data existing dogma and power structures, and developing new habits and conventions.
It requires time, persistence, and support from a variety of stakeholders, who often have conflicting interests.
Despite all these obstacles, change is inevitable. We live in the era of unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and political turmoil. However, as often emphasised by the creators of Gapminder, on a global scale far fewer people live in extreme poverty, we have higher income and we live longer. COVID-19 prompted communities to look after its most vulnerable members, swans have returned to the canals of Venice, and air pollution is diminishing.
While change often happens regardless (or even against) our wishes, there are aspects of society to which researchers can contribute, by providing evidence, creating understanding, or advocating for change where it is needed, usually by following these three steps.
Step 1: Ask the right questions
Good research questions are timely, contemporary, clearly formulated, feasible, relevant, and aim to make the world a better place.
A thoughtful Bozena in Times Square
Image: a thoughtful Bozena in Times Square, New York
Asking such questions is difficult, because it requires an extensive understanding about the current state of knowledge in the field.
This is where a comprehensive systematic literature review and listening to the advice of your mentors is often useful. Although saying “I don’t know” may be outside of your comfort zone, this should be the answer to your research question at this stage of the process.