What is not the purpose of research when promoting social change? it proves who is wrong and who is right in an argument. it identifies causes of a specific issue or problem. it supports persuasive arguments about the change being proposed to those in control. it defines the nature of the problem.

The answer is: It identifies the causes of a specific issue or problem

Explanation:

Research is a fundamental tool which helps a person find out a specific issue that was either unresolved or needs clarification. Social change is a complex phenomena, so the researcher needs to address why it happens, the cause, and how will it be addressed, the effect or the change.  Research allows the person to investigate a specific social situation by gathering data on the issue or problem, and identifying important variables. For example, if I want to study the causes of hunger in my country, I will do the following: I will gather the available data on the regions were people suffer from hunger. Then I will identify the variables that contribute to hunger, such as lack of farming equipment, lack of commercial activity in the area, amongst others. Once I have collected the data and interpreted it accordingly, I will be able to discover the cause of hunger.  Research therefore is an essential tool to identify the cause of an issue or problem.