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DESIGNING YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT

This section is designed to assist you with the planning phase of your Participatory Action Research (PAR) project. The section includes activities that will enable your group to make informed decisions about starting a research project, developing research goals and questions, choosing a research method, and creating a plan and timeline to guide your research. It also includes tools that will help your team to design and plan your overall research project.

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Activity 2.1

Activity: 2.1 Developing Research Goals and Questions

Purpose of Activity:

The purpose of this activity is to have participants discuss the goals and purpose of the research project. After you’ve discussed what the research is trying to accomplish and why your organization is doing it, the participants will come up with research questions that will guide the research process.

By the End of Activity Participants Will:

  • Discuss the social or policy change you want to bring about through your research and campaign work
  • Discuss why research is useful or relevant to your organization or campaign
  • Determine the overarching questions you want to answer through your research

 

Before this Activity Participants Will Need to:

Be introduced to the basics of Participatory Action Research (PAR)

Decide that PAR is right for your organization

Tools Needed:

Copies of Tool 2.1: Guiding Questions for Developing Research Goals and Questions

Materials Needed:

Butcher paper

Markers

Key Terms:

Research Goals

Research Question

Intended Audience:

Community Members

Time Needed:

1 hour

Part I: What and Why of PAR (20 minutes)

Facilitator Instructions:

1. Provide a brief summary of your campaign to set the context for the discussion

2. Explain that today we will have a discussion about using participatory action research in our campaign. We are going to try to begin to develop goals and questions that can guide our research.

3. Write “What?” at the top of a piece of butcher paper, and go through the questions below with the participants. Record responses on butcher paper, and keep the paper for later. (If you have 7 or more participants you can break out into small groups).

What?

…is the social or policy change you want to bring about at the end of the day?

…are the overarching questions you want to answer through your research?

…information do you need to better understand and document the issues you are addressing?

…primary question do you want to answer with your research?

4. Once you’ve answered each “What?” question sufficiently, write “Why?” on a new sheet of butcher paper. Go through each of the questions below with participants. Record responses.

Why?

…is research useful or important for your organization? Will it be used…

…internally, to inform and assess needs in the community?

…externally, to mobilize and educate community members or elected officials around an issue?

 

Part II: Developing Research Goals (20 minutes)

Facilitator Instructions:

  1. Put up a piece of butcher paper that says “Research Goals: What you want to accomplish with your research?”
  1. Facilitate a discussion based upon your group’s answer to the “What” and “Why” questions that leads the group to establish the goals of the research and the research questions.
  2. Ask the question: based on the answers to the “What” and “Why” questions, what are our goals for this research? What do we want to accomplish through doing this research?
  3. Ask people to popcorn responses and record their responses on butcher paper.
  4. Explain that now that we have some research goals, we need to frame those goals as questions in order to conduct research.

Part III: Developing Research Questions (20 minutes)

Facilitator Instructions:

  1. Frame the activity: explain that part of being a researcher is to ask questions and find answers.  To design a research project you need to first figure out what big questions you want to answer.  We will use our list of goals to figure out what questions we want to ask
  2. Put up a piece of butcher paper that says: “Research Questions: What big questions do you want to answer with your research?”  Also write an example of a research question on the butcher paper.  For example, if one of our goals is to document rapid development of luxury housing in our neighborhood, our question would be, “What is the current state of housing development in our neighborhood?”
  3. Ask the question: based on the answers to the “What” and “Why” questions and the goals we just created, what big questions do we want to answer through our research?
  4. Ask people to popcorn responses and record their responses on butcher paper.
  5. Explain to the groups that these goals and questions will be the foundation for your research design and implementation.

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Activity 2.2

Activity: 2.2 Choosing Your Research Method

Purpose of Activity:

This activity is designed to help organizers and members understand the various options for how they can conduct research and choose the research method(s) they will use.

By the End of Activity Participants Will:

  • Finalize research goals and questions
  • Understand relevant research methods
  • Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different research methods
  • Decide the research method appropriate for your group

Before this Activity Participants Will Need to:

Develop research goals and research questions

Tools Needed:

Copies of Tool 2.2: Guiding Questions for Choosing a Research Method

Copies of Tool 2.3: PAR Menu of Methods

Materials Needed:

Butcher paper

Markers

Pens

Post-it notes

Key Terms:

Quantitative Data

Qualitative Data

Survey

Interview

Focus Groups

Community Mapping

Community Visioning

Secondary Data

Media Review

Literature Review

Intended Audience:

Community Members or Organizers

Time Needed:

1.5 hours

Part I: Nailing Down your Research Goals and Questions (15 minutes)

  1. Frame the activity in the context of your campaign: now that we’ve decided to do participatory research we need to dig into how to do it. There are a bunch of different ways we can conduct research so we need to explore these different research methods.
  2. Put up the butcher paper with “Research Goals” and “Research Questions” from Section 2, Activity 1.
  3. Ask the group, is anything missing?
  4. Wrap it up: Summarize what has been said and explain that these goals and questions will help to determine which methods you will use to conduct your research.

Part II: Brainstorm as a Big Group (25 minutes)

Facilitator Instructions:

  1. Explain that now that we have determined some of our goals and research questions, we need to dig into how to do the research.
  2. Next, facilitate a discussion that answers the questions: how do we do the research, when do we do it and where? Record responses on butcher paper, and keep butcher paper for Part 3 (This can also be done in break-out groups).

How?

…can you document or better understand the issue? Do you need “hard” numbers (quantitative data) and/or stories of personal experience (qualitative data) or both?

…are you going to give legs to your research? What action strategies could you employ to make the research and report as impactful as possible?

Who?

…are the stakeholders in the issue? Who has interest? Who is affected?

…needs to have their voice be heard?

…are you trying to influence? Who has power over the issue?

…is your target audience (community members, elected officials, media)?

…will collect your data?

Where?

…can you find the people you need to talk to get your data?

…can you find existing information that is relevant to your research?

…can you go for support and assistance (non-profits, universities, government agencies)?

Part II: Understanding the Research Methods (35 minutes)

Facilitator Instructions:

  1. Choose 3-4 methods that you think are the most relevant to your project (from Tool T2.1 PAR Menu of Methods).
  2. Break the participants into 3-4 groups and assign one method that you’ve chosen to each group.
  3. Pass out Tool T2.1 “PAR Menu of Methods” to each group.
  4. Tell each group to read over the description for the method they have been assigned and give them 5-7 minutes to make up a skit for that method.  Encourage them to be creative.
  5. Have each small group perform their skit.
  6. After each skit, facilitate a discussion with the full group.  Ask the group: what did you see in the skit? What do you think are the pros and cons of that method for our work?  Record the pros and cons list on butcher paper.

Part III: Decide Your Research Method (20 Minutes)

Facilitator Instructions:

  1. Place the butcher papers from each A2.2 activity next to each other at the focal point of the room.
  2. First, ask a volunteer to read your responses to the “How” “Who” and “Where” questions from the first activity to remind everyone of your initial conversations.
  3. Facilitate a discussion: now that we know more about each of the possible research methods, which methods align with the groups responses to the “How”, “Who” and “Where” questions?
  4. Make a decision about which method(s) make the most sense for your project. Record the methods you choose to put into your research workplan (see Tool 2.3).

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Activity 2.3

Activity: 2.3 Developing Your Research Timeline

Purpose of Activity:

This activity is designed to enable your research team to sit together and plan out the remaining steps of your research project. Through the activity, participants will devise a timeline that will map out all of the necessary steps in your project, and will specify who is going to be responsible for each step of the project. By the end of the activity you will have created a research timeline that you can use to guide the rest of your project.

By the End of this Activity You Will:

  • Map out all of the steps of your research project in a timeline
  • Decide who is going to do what and when they are going to do it
  • Create a system of accountability for your research project

Before this Activity Participants Will Need to:

Have been introduced to the basics of Participatory Action Research (PAR)

Have created the research goals and questions for your project

Have decided on your research method

Tools Needed:

Tool 2.4: Research Timeline Template

Materials Needed:

Butcher paper

Markers

Pens

Key Terms:

Sample

Data Report Back

Policy Recommendation

Intended Audience:

Members and Organizers that will be active in research process

Time Needed:

1 hour

Part I: Creating Your Research Plan and Timeline (15 minutes)

Facilitator Instructions:

1. Before the meeting prepare the room.

  • Prepare two pieces of butcher paper in advance; Butcher Paper 1:  a list of the main steps in PAR (listed below), Butcher Paper 2: recreate the table below on large sheets of butcher paper big enough so that you can write in each box. Depending on the specifics of your project you may need to modify this table.
WhatWhenWho
What is the research task that needs to be done?By when does it need to be complete?Who will be the point person/organization to make sure this task get done?
1) Develop Research Goals
2) Develop Research Question(s)
3) Choose Research Method(s)(i.e. survey, focus group, interviews, etc.)
4) Create Research Plan
5) Design Research Instruments
6) Select Your Sample
7) Collect Your Data (based on research methods you chose)
8) Enter Your Data
9) Analyze Your Data
10) Data Report Back
11) Develop Policy Recommendations
12) Package the Report for the Public/Develop Communications Plan
13) Release the Report
  • Place the two pieces of butcher paper next to each other at the front of the room with the PAR steps to the left of the table.
  • Fill out the first three steps (Organizing Goal, Research Question, and Research Plan) in the table if you have already done them. Fill out any other steps that you have already discussed or figured out (for example you might have chosen someone to design the research instruments).


2. Introduce the activity; today we are going to create our research plan. By the end of the meeting we will have completed a timeline of the research steps and will have split up who will do what.

3. Describe the butcher paper sheets you have created. Describe that you will be using these sheets to create your timeline.

4. Go through each of the PAR steps that you will use for your project and fill out the what, when and who of each step with participants.

5. After you’ve completed the table, take a moment to congratulate everyone as you have now finished the planning stages of your research project!

6. Keep all of the Butcher Paper sheets you created and use them to type up your Research Plan (see Tool 2.4 and T2.5: Template for Research Work Plan and Research Timeline Template).

 

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Tool 2.1

Tool: 2.1 Guiding Questions for Developing Research Goals and Questions

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WHAT…

…is the social or policy change you want to bring about at the end of the day?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

…are your organizing goals, and how can this research be helpful achieving these goals?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

…information do you need to better understand and document the issues you are addressing?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WHY…

…is research useful or important for your organization?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

… internally, to inform and assess needs in the community?          YES          NO

Explain:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

… externally, to mobilize and educate community members around an  issue?

YES        NO

Explain:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

…to support a specific policy campaign or influence policy and public debate around an issue?

YES           NO

Explain:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Tool 2.2

Tool: 2.2 Guiding Questions for Choosing a Research Method

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HOW…

… can you document or better understand the issue?  Do you need “hard” numbers (quantitative data) or stories of personal experience (qualitative data)?

Quantitative         Qualitative           Both

________________________________________________________

… are you going to give legs to your research? What action strategies could you employ to make the research and report as effective as possible? ________________________________________________________

WHO…

… are the stakeholders in the issue? Who has interest, who is affected?
________________________________________________________

…needs their voice to be heard?
________________________________________________________

…are you trying to influence? Who has power over the issue?
________________________________________________________

…is your target audience (community members, elected officials, media)?
________________________________________________________

…will collect your data?
________________________________________________________

WHERE…

… can you go to for information and other existing data?
________________________________________________________

…can you go for support and assistance (non-profits, universities, government agencies)?
________________________________________________________

WHEN…

… is the right time to do research?
________________________________________________________

…In your campaign?
________________________________________________________

…In the political context?
________________________________________________________

…In your organization?
…In the political context?
________________________________________________________

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Tool 2.3

Tool: 2.3 Participatory Action Research (PAR) Menu of Methods

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  • Surveys- Ask specific questions and tend to include short answer, multiple-choice, and scaled-answer questions. Surveys can be done online, through the mail, and can be written and filled out in person.  The most effective way to conduct surveys in support of organizing is in an in person “interview style” so that the surveyor can make personal connections with the respondent. Surveys are helpful for getting information or data from a wider group of people and are better for getting quantitative information like numbers, than they are for getting qualitative information, like people’s stories. Surveys can be helpful when making policy demands because elected officials, policymakers and the media tend to respond to hard numbers.
  • Interviews- Are guided conversations about a specific topic, are often done one-on-one, and tend to use open-ended questions in order to get in-depth explanations.  Interviews are useful when you want to get more specific, detailed information than you would get from a survey and you want to get deeper into people’s experiences and personal stories. Interviews are appropriate when dealing with sensitive or personal information that people may not be comfortable writing on a survey or sharing in a group setting (such as a focus group). Interviews can also assist the organizing outreach process because they facilitate one-to-one interaction, but they can be more time intensive then surveys.

  • Focus Groups- Are small group sessions (7-12 people) that are led by a facilitator in order to obtain opinions based on the research question.  Like interviews, focus groups are good for getting qualitative data, and are an effective way to get people’s personal stories, testimonies, and experiences from a group setting. They can also be useful for delving deeper into a specific issue or research question not fully addressed by another method.  Focus groups can be useful in allowing participants to bounce ideas and stories off of each other.  Due to the group setting, they can also be more challenging than interviews for discussing sensitive topics.

  • Community Mapping/Canvassing- Is a process of documenting and visually presenting trends or patterns in a given community.  Community maps and canvassing can be used to document many physical, spatial dynamics of a neighborhood from new construction sites, to new luxury condos, to green spaces, to new businesses, to vacant lots, etc. This is an effective tool for tracking physical changes in a neighborhood, and specifically as a way to document the impact of gentrification on a neighborhood.

  • Community Visioning- Is a process where group of community members come together to develop an alternative vision or proposal for the future of their community.  Visioning can be used to develop public policy demands and can be particularly useful when communities are working to impact the physical development of their community.  This can also be useful for groups working to influence a particular issue or policy.

  • Mystery Shopping- Is a process where community members posing as customers call or visit businesses and document their experience and observations.  Usually mystery shoppers have a specific set of criteria they are looking for when they visit or call a business.  This is a good way to document employment practices, compliance with labor laws, and consumer fraud.

  • Secondary data- Is data that comes from someone else’s research.  This is distinct from “primary data” which is original data that you collect through your own research in the field.  Secondary data is helpful for getting background information that will complement the ground-level information that comes from people’s experiences (primary data). It can also be helpful to do a bit of secondary data collection before you begin your primary data collection in order to focus your research questions and help you to develop your research instruments (such as surveys and interview guides). Secondary data can come from a variety of public and private sources, such as the U.S. Census Bureau, city and state agencies, research organizations and academic institutions.

  • Media Review- Is a systematic review of a certain number of news articles or clips from a variety of sources about a specific topic to uncover the most common words or themes that emerge.  This can be used as background research to help inform your research design and can also be used on its own to give you data about how a specific issue is being presented or framed in the media.

  • Literature Review- Is a review of existing articles, academic studies or reports in order to find out what information already exists about the topic you are exploring.  This can be part of your secondary research; can help inform your research questions and can help you identify gaps in research and information on a given issue.

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Tool 2.4
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Tool: 2.4 Research Work Plan Template

Why is This Tool Useful?

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This tool will help to document your research plan and methodology.  It is also useful in developing a workplan, timeline and accountability mechanism for your project to make sure that each member of your research team is doing the work they have committed to doing and are keeping up with deadlines.   This can also be helpful in putting together proposals for funding or other support because you will have all the information about your project in one place. Below is a template for a research plan.  Sections can be shifted and deleted as needed.

________________________________________________________

Name of Organization(s):

Name of Research Project:

Date:

Background

This section should include some background information about the social issue that your research will address and/ or the campaign that your research will support.

Overview of project

This section should provide a brief overview of the research project including what issue you are addressing and why, what information you plan to collect, whom you are collecting the information from and how you are collecting information (See Tools 2.1 and 2.2).

Goals of project

This section should include a bulleted list of what you hope to achieve through doing this research project.  Some examples include:

  • To gather current and detailed data from our community.
  • To develop skills and leadership of members.
  • To build the base of members in our organization.
  • To educate elected officials about our organization’s campaign.

Research Questions

This should include a bulleted list of the overarching questions you hope to answer through your research.  Research questions are different from survey or interview questions because they are broad and can help to guide the more specific questions you will ask in your surveys, interviews, focus groups, canvassing Tool, etc. Some examples include:

  • What is the impact of poor housing conditions on residents of Chinatown?
  • What types of benefits are workers getting and what are they not getting from their employers?
  • How do various policies and procedures at methadone programs affect participant’s access to methadone?
  • What is the current state of luxury housing development in low-income communities of color in NYC?

Methodology/Research Components

This section should include all the methods you will use to answer your research questions along with a short description for each method. Below are some examples, but you should feel free to chose other methods (see Tool 2.3)

  1. Short survey: This short survey will be focused on collecting updated and detailed data on x, y and z.  The goal will be to collect 500 surveys.  The surveys will be translated into Spanish and French languages and administered by members of our organization.
  2. In Depth Interviews: Members and organizers will conduct in depth interviews with 5-10 workers in order to collect qualitative data about x and y and to show z.
  3. Secondary Research: Members will conduct an analysis of current literature and data to support the findings from field research.
  4. Media Review: Members will review 100 articles found in local newspapers in the last three years that include the word “public housing” in the headline.  Researchers will identify the most prevalent words and themes in these articles.

Project Output

This section should include a few sentences about what you will create at the end of this project.  This could be a report, a 1 or 2 page summary of your findings, a map, a video, etc.

How the PAR Project Will Support Community Organizing

This section should explain how your research will support and be integrated into your organizing campaign.  Will your research help with leadership development? Help to build your base? Help to garner media attention about a policy issue you are fighting for?

Timeline

This table should include all of the different tasks that you will need to complete for the research project, along with who will be responsible for completing the task and by what date.  The tasks will differ depending on which methods you chose but Tool 2.5 will provide a template as a place to start.

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Tool: 2.5 Research Timeline Template

If it is a coalition effort, write the point organization and individual that is responsible for completing the task.

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WhatWhenWho
What is the research task that needs to be done?By when does it need to be complete?Who will be the point person/organization to make sure this task get done?*
Develop Research Goals
Develop Research Question(s)
Choose Research Method
Create Research Plan
Design Research Instruments
Pilot Research Instruments
Finalize and Translate Research Instruments
Select Your Sample
Collect Your Data (based on research methods you chose)
Enter Your Data
Analyze Your Data
Data Report Back
Develop Policy Recommendations
Package the Report for the Public
Develop Communications Strategy and Plan
Release the Report

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Tool: 2.6 Advisory Board Invitation Template

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Tool 2.6: Sample Advisory Board Invitation Template

Why is this tool useful?

Developing a Research Advisory Board can be a great way to bring together a team of resource allies to support and add capacity to your Participatory Action Research. Academics, lawyers or policy analysts that specialize in the issue you are researching are all good examples of potential advisors. We recommend bringing advisors together as a group early in the process and being clear about the role they will play and what they can expect from the process. Below is a sample letter you can send to invite advisors to an initial meeting. We also have a sample agenda for a Research Advisory Board meet (see Tool 2.7).

[INSERT YOUR ORGANIZATION’S LOGO OR PUT ON ORGANIZATIONAL LETTERHEAD]

[DATE]

Dear ________________,

I hope you are well! I am writing to you to ask you to be a part of an exciting new research project of the [YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NAME] by serving on our advisory board.

As you may know… [INSERT BRIEF SUMMARY ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION’S OVERARCHING GOALS AND AIMS]

As part of this work,   we are planning to conduct a participatory action research project focusing on [RESEARCH TOPIC].

Because of your familiarity with [ORGANIZATION NAME] and your expertise with these issues or strategies, I am reaching out to you in the hopes that you will serve on a Research Advisory Team to provide feedback on our research. As an advisor, I am requesting that you participate in one or more of the following:

  • Read a draft of our report and provide feedback;
  • Participate in one or more conference calls about the report;
  • Provide feedback on policy recommendations;
  • Provide advice on how to best use the report to advance [ORGANIZATION’S NAME]’s advocacy and organizing goals.

 

Please let me know by [INSERT DATE] if you are willing to participate on this Research Advisory Team.  We will be scheduling for a meeting for [INSERT DATE]. Please don’t hesitate to call (XXX) XXX- XXXX or email [INSERT EMAIL HERE] if you would like additional information or have further questions.  We hope you will join us in this important work!

Thank you,

[INSERT NAME]

[INSERT POSITION]

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Tool: 2.7 Sample Advisory Board Meeting Agenda Template

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Why is this tool useful?

Developing a Research Advisory Board can be a great way to bring together a team of resource allies to support and add capacity to your Participatory Action Research. Academics, lawyers or policy analysts that specialize in the issue you are researching are all good examples of potential advisors. Once the Research Advisory Board (see Tool 2.6) is assembled, it is a good idea to bring the Board together as early in the research process as possible. The research plan should be more or less complete by this point (see Tool 2.4), and advisors can give valuable feedback on research goals and questions, methodology, project output and the timeline. The advisors should also walk away with a concrete understanding of their role in the work and what you will be asking of them in participating in the research process. It is also a good idea to make sure the research timeline is mostly complete (see Tool 2.5) because this will make planning next steps with the board easier. Below is a sample meeting agenda for the Research Advisory Board, which can be used to ensure that the meeting is productive and provides crucial feedback on the project.

Research Advisory Board Meeting

Date

Time

Agenda

I.          Welcome and introductions

(10 min)

II.         Who we are—overview of the organization

(5 min)

III.        Why we are here today

(5 min)

IV.        Review of research plan

(20 min)

V.         Advisory roles

(5 min)

VI.        Discussion

(30 min)

VII.       Next steps

(5 min)

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Case Study

Case Study: 2.1 Center for Frontline Retail and CDP Report: Pathways to Success: The Need for Accessible, Appropriate Trainings for Retail Workers, 2017

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Report

Background on the Organization and Issue

The Center for Frontline Retail (CFR) is a worker-led organization committed to improving the lives of retail workers through community organizing, industry analysis, and leadership development. CFR works to simultaneously elevate workers’ voices and raise standards in the retail sector. CFR’s prior research has shown that retail workers face discrimination and harassment in the workplace, along with unfair scheduling practices.

Through discussions with their members, CFR identified a lack of training opportunities for workers, impacting their ability to advance in the sector.  . CFR also noticed that women and people of color are disproportionately affected by the lack of training from employers and as a result lack opportunities for career advancement.

In order to document the lack of training and advancement opportunities for retail workers, and the disproportionate effect of this on women and people of color, CFR partnered with the Community Development Project on a participatory action research project in order to voice the concerns of retail workers and highlight CFR’s training model as a pathway for advancement. This project ultimately resulted in a report that describes workers’ desire for, and barriers to, training and advancement opportunities in the retail industry, outlines policies that would set aside money to train retail workers, and puts the CFR training model forward to train and educate entry level workers, as well as higher level training to grow within the retail industry.

Below is a description of the Center for Frontline Retail Research Project, based on the Participatory Action Research guiding framework (see Tools 2.1 and 2.2).

WHAT…

Were the Organizing Goals connected to this research?

  • To generate data on the training needs of retail workers in NYC.
  • To document and generate data on the extent to which retail workers are offered training and education programs by their employers, and distinguish whether workers of color and women are able to access such programs.
  • To document the experiences of people of color and women working in the retail industry in accessing appropriate trainings and education programs.
  • To explore and document the existing training and education programs that are available to retail workers and their associated costs.

Overall questions did CFR want to answer through their research?

  • What is the current training and education landscape for retail workers in NYC?
  • What are the training and education needs of retail workers (with focus on women and people of color)?
  • What are the experiences of women and people of color working in retail in accessing training and other career advancement opportunities?

WHY…

Is this research useful or important for CFR?

  • INTERNALLY: to base build and educate retail workers; to develop member leaders and their outreach skills.
  • EXTERNALLY: to inform a curriculum developed for retail workers that would provide crucial training for career advancement; put together the landscape of barriers that retail workers face in accessing education and training; put forward recommendations for retailers to adopt high road retail strategies.

WHO…

Are the Stakeholders in this Issue?

  • Retail workers in New York City

Was CFR trying to influence?

  • New York City Council Members, Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, retail employers and brands, developers of commercial retail spaces

HOW…

Did CFR gather information (what methods did they use)?

  • SHORT SURVEY: CFR members administered a survey to 300 retail workers in order to understand the training needs and existing training opportunities of retail workers working in general merchandise stores in New York City, specifically discount, fast fashion and high end stores. Retail workers were targeted during classes at the Center for Frontline Retail and when retail workers were on breaks throughout the work day.
  • FOCUS GROUPS: In order to build and expand on the quantitative data gathered from surveys, CFR also conducted three focus groups with their members in order to collect qualitative data about the experiences and stories of retail workers accessing trainings in the workplace, and to show the barriers and discrimination faced by women and people of color.
  • SECONDARY RESEARCH: CDP conducted an analysis of current literature and data to support findings from research, and to document the current landscape of trainings, curriculum and education programs in retail.

Did Research support CFR’s organizing efforts?

  • The survey project provided opportunities to base build and educate community members. The focus groups provided member leaders with the opportunity to learn facilitation skills and a deepened understanding of the landscape of barriers facing workers.
  • The data collected through the research was written into a report and presented to key stakeholders in the retail sector, such as retail employers, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development, and developers of commercial work spaces who could partner with CFR to provide training to potential retail workers.

Read the report here. Read coverage of the report release in Crains NY and the Associated Press.