Search form

What do we mean by conducting research?

___You conduct your research by working, in whatever way necessary, to find the information you need to support or strengthen your advocacy

Why should you do advocacy research?

___It gives your advocacy substance

___It gives you new information to help make your case

___It can show you what's most likely to address your issue successfully

___It can provide you with anecdotes and examples to use

___It can confirm what you were already sure of

___It allows you to make cost-benefit arguments

___It gives you credibility

___It can short-circuit the opposition

___It sets you up as the expert on the issue

When should you do advocacy research?

___When you're trying to get legislation passed

___To help you make the community concerned about an issue that needs attention

___When programs, services, or groups of people are under attack

___When you want to expose corrupt officials

___When government or some other entity is lying to the public

___When it's necessary to prevent harm to individuals or the public

___To further the public interest

How do you conduct research?

___You ask for help

___You check to see if someone has already gathered the information you need

___You learn all the necessary basics about your issue, and know them cold

___You determine clearly what you'll use the information for

___You check all your facts carefully

___You're persistent

You know how to do the different kinds of research and how to choose which is appropriate for your circumstances:

___You do "academic" research

___You gain information from conversations and interviews

___You construct and administer surveys

___You design and conduct studies

___You do detective work

___You find people with personal anecdotes and stories to tell