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