Conducting Social Norms Research
Short summary
Harmful social norms are a key barrier in achieving gender justice and positive SRHR outcomes, including in eliminating harmful practices and violence. Social norms change is the core component of creating an enabling environment. What are effective strategies and methodologies to address social norms change? What norms/values are a must to focus on in your interventions? How to use social norms in the framing of your (campaign) messages? Rutgers can support partners with these questions via CS trajectories tailored to the need of country coalitions.
What capacity strengthening support can we provide on this topic?
Themes or topics that support can be provided on include:
- Design and monitoring of interventions that focus on shifting social norms (e.g. encouraging a positive approach to sexuality, breaking harmful gender norms, supporting positive fatherhood, increasing acceptability of diversity, promoting youth involvement)
- Measuring social norms change and how to link the findings to public support campaigns and other communication or advocacy related activities
- Conducting social norms research and putting findings to use in interventions
What could the CS look like?
- Providing support/advice over a period of time at a distance on designing and conducting social norms research
- Contributing to a (online) workshop or meeting as a resource person (either in person or at distance, like via Skype) or getting you in contact with relevant resource persons on this topic
- Facilitate linking and learning sessions on social norms research
- Provide support in disseminating research results via papers and articles
What tools are available?
- Social Norms Exploration Tool (SNET), Social Norms Exploration Tool (SNET) - Institute for Reproductive Health
- Getting Practical Tool, Getting Practical: Integrating Social Norms into Social and Behavior Change Programs - Institute for Reproductive Health
What languages can this CS support be provided in?
English and possibly French (dependent on availability of French-speaking staff)