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Knowledge Translation and Social Epidemiology: Taking Power, Politics and Values Seriously

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Rethinking Social Epidemiology

Abstract

Although demand for evidence-based policies and programs to reduce population health inequities is intensifying, the influence of social epidemiology on public policy remains limited. In clinical and health services research domains, knowledge translation strategies have been developed to increase the impact of research evidence in policy making and practice. We review the applicability of these strategies for increasing the practical impact of social epidemiology research, drawing on the knowledge constitutive interests framework developed by Jürgen Habermas. We find that conventional knowledge translation characterizes policy change and the role of research in technical-instrumental terms that do not reflect the complex social, political and values-based dimensions of policy change and research use that come into play in relation to the reduction of health inequities. While conventional knowledge translation approaches may work in some cases, for social epidemiology to play a significant role in advancing social change, knowledge translation strategies that acknowledge and respond to the intersections of power, politics, values and science also need to be developed.

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Abbreviations

CIHR:

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

KT:

knowledge translation

MMR:

measles, mumps and rubella

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research on Inner City Health, St. Michael’s Hospital, 30 Bond Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 1W8, Canada

    Kelly Murphy

  2. Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa, 55 Laurier Avenue East, Desmarais Building, Room 11105, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada

    Patrick Fafard

Authors
  1. Kelly Murphy
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  2. Patrick Fafard
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Correspondence to Kelly Murphy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. St. Michael’s Hospital, Bond Street 30, Toronto, M5B 1W8, Ontario, Canada

    Patricia O’Campo

  2. , McMaster University, Department of Health, Aging and Society, Main Street West 1280, Hamilton, L8S 4L8, Ontario, Canada

    James R. Dunn

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Murphy, K., Fafard, P. (2012). Knowledge Translation and Social Epidemiology: Taking Power, Politics and Values Seriously. In: O’Campo, P., Dunn, J. (eds) Rethinking Social Epidemiology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2138-8_13

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