Research

We collaborate with qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods teams to design research protocols, collect and analyze data, and provide policy and program recommendations with the goal of improving health outcomes and social equity.

  • We specialize in qualitative data coding and analysis and the use of data management software such as NVivo.

  • We are experts in qualitative data collection including all forms of interviewing, participant observation, fieldwork and ethnography.

  • We provide long-term research immersion, participant observation and field methods.

  • We create interview, survey, focus group and other tools to collect data to answer research questions.

  • We are certified in human subjects protection and well-versed in obtaining institutional review board (IRB) approval for ethical compliance.

  • We work with research teams to disseminate findings, including leading the peer-review publication process. We write and publish articles in refereed journals as part of research and evaluation partnerships.

  • We collaborate to transform research questions into proposals and protocols that can be used to secure funding and IRB compliance.

  • We provide training and support for assistants tasked with data collection or other aspects of research. We also provide training for those seeking to learn qualitative and participatory research methods including focus groups, interviews and oral history collection.

Evaluation

We develop evaluation frameworks and data collection tools to document, assess and refine program impacts, align organizational strategies with community needs, and strengthen participation.

  • We provide assessment assistance at every stage of a program, from concept to post-project reflection. We develop and administer tools measure success towards intended goals and impacts.

  • We review relevant reports, data sets, publications, programs and participant input to contextualize program goals and understand “best practices” to achieve change.

  • We utilize methods that challenge traditional evaluation protocols to bring myriad voices, experiences, and expertise into decision and policy-making arenas.

  • We develop and administer tools to gather participant feedback including surveys, interviews and focus groups, and assist organizations to make sense of the data collected.

  • Technical assistance ranges from helping an organization develop data collection tools to training internal staff to track assessment metrics. We provide trainings and coaching to support evaluation efforts.

  • A Theory of Change is a tool that assists an organization to identify goals, articulate values, and plan action steps to create impact.

Engagement

We collaborate with museums, arts and culture organizations, and public arts and humanities projects to expand the breadth, depth, and sustainability of their community and audience engagement efforts.

  • We design and facilitate neighborhood and place-based asset mapping to document local histories— treasures, strengths and dreams for the future.

  • We partner with artist-led collectives and community-based organizations to curate festivals, exhibitions, fairs, parades and installations to celebrate cultural producers and create cross-sector relationship building.

  • We employ creative strategies such as walking tours, photo diaries, drawing, and community writing to document multiple voices, experiences, and histories.

  • We create workshops and other interactive forums to share ideas and facilitate exchange. For example, we created a public workshop to discuss the impact of petroleum refining in Philadelphia for the Penn Program in Environmental Humanities.

  • We collaborate on myriad projects that employ this asset and strengths-based approach that uses arts, culture, design and research to support community-led development.

  • We work with curators, designers and creators to review and edit exhibition and other materials. For example, we provided “sensitivity” reading and editorial feedback to Designing Motherhood, an exhibition about birth and reproductive design.

  • We prioritize community authorship through oral history collection, story booths, and peer interviewing.