The Change Laboratory as a tool for collaborative transforming work activities: an interview with Jaakko Virkkunen

Abstract

On September 2012, the School of Public Health, University of São Paulo (FSP-USP), in cooperation with the University of Helsinki - Finland, held a Training Course for the Change Laboratory Method conducted by Professor Emeritus Jaakko Virkkunen, Ph.D. in Work Psychology and Professor at the Center for Research on Activity, Development and Learning (CRADLE), University of Helsinki. He has a broader experience in formative interventions and conceded this interview to Saúde e Sociedade Magazine. During the interview, the trajectory and history of this Center was presented, which has a long tradition in research based on the Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) based on the work of L. S. Vygotsky and his followers. Jaakko Virkkunen took part along with other CRADLE researchers in the development of a method called Change Laboratory (CL), a consolidated tool already applied in many countries and different areas of activity. Theoretical aspects, principles, the importance of demand and experience of application of CL were presented during the interview. Furthermore, other differences among participatory research methods are mentioned. At the end, the interviewee presents suggestions about the use of the CL.