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dc.contributor.authorBishop, Brian
dc.contributor.authorDzidic, Peta
dc.contributor.authorBreen, Lauren
dc.date.accessioned2017-01-30T14:00:14Z
dc.date.available2017-01-30T14:00:14Z
dc.date.created2013-08-22T20:00:25Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.identifier.citationBishop, Brian J. and Dzidic, Peta L. and Breen, Lauren J. 2013. Multiple-level analysis as a tool for policy: An example of the use of contextualism and causal layered analysis. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice. 4 (2): pp. 1-13.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/37190
dc.description.abstract

In 1970 Scribner described four types of community psychologists. Despite social change being a common theme, the four types were differentiated by the extent to which they were inside government and organisations or outside, agitating for change. Community psychology and policy change appear to be implicitly connected. Despite this, engagement of community psychologists in policy change has proven to be minimal. Distinctions between first (cosmetic) and second order (systemic) change (Watzlawick, Weakland & Fisch, 1974) reflect the intractability of fundamental change due to deep systemic cultural influences, and should act as a motivator for community psychologists in the policy arena. We argue that psychology’s failure to adopt a multiplicity of epistemologies, in particular a contextualist epistemology, has meant that psychology, and particularly, community psychology has had limited impact. Further, we argue the need to consider community worldviews and culture, in general, if we are to engage more fully in policy development and implementation. Contending with the social issues relevant to policy settings requires an articulation of the worldview and cultural context. Causal layered analysis, a futures methodology, has been adopted to allow a reflective and contextual approach to policy implementation and involves a structured layered deconstruction of social issues. An example of this approach will be highlighted with its application to the implementation of sustainable Australian agricultural policy in the face of climate change.What is revealed is a psychological paradox involving the general endorsement of sustainable policy alongside cultural impediments to its adoption. Community psychologists have a natural and important role to play in policy formulation, given our epistemologies, methodologies and motivation for genuine and transformative social change.

dc.publisherVincent T. Francisco, Ed. & Pub.
dc.relation.urihttp://www.gjcpp.org/pdfs/bishop-v4i2-20130619.pdf
dc.subjectpublic policy
dc.subjectmulti-level analysis
dc.subjectcontextualism
dc.titleMultiple-level analysis as a tool for policy: An example of the use of contextualism and causal layered analysis
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume4
dcterms.source.number2
dcterms.source.startPage1
dcterms.source.endPage13
dcterms.source.issn2163-8667
dcterms.source.titleGlobal Journal of Community Psychology Practice
curtin.note

This article is published under the Open Access publishing model and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/. Please refer to the licence to obtain terms for any further reuse or distribution of this work.

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curtin.accessStatusOpen access


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