Published case study
The transit proposal with the broadest community appeal
Focus groups in four languages compared proposed transit solutions and explained why one had the broadest appeal.
Read the case studyPublic sector & nonprofit
Understand how people evaluate your proposals
A proposed public service affects people with different needs and experiences. A nonprofit's message must make sense to the people it hopes to reach. Russell helps define whose views matter, compare the options, and explain the reasons behind people's responses.
Transit proposals evaluated in four languages
A transportation agency needed the views of customers and nearby communities. Russell conducted in-person and online groups in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Bengali. Participants reacted to, rated, and ranked the proposals; findings were presented to local and state government leaders.
Research for the question your organization faces
Decisions to make when planning the study
Should we include service users, nearby residents, or both?
Start with who uses the service and who would be affected by the proposal. Those groups may overlap, but they are not interchangeable. Define them separately in recruitment, and decide which comparisons the findings must support. The transportation study included both customers and community members.
How do we plan research in more than one language?
Identify the languages needed to reach the intended audiences at the start. Recruitment, research materials, moderation, and analysis all need to accommodate them. Russell's published transportation study used four languages; the languages and formats for a new study would be agreed during scoping.
How would you approach a nonprofit positioning study?
Begin with the mission, existing research, and the audiences the organization needs to reach. Stakeholder interviews can clarify internal priorities; research with donors, members, or intended audiences can test whether proposed messages are understood and credible. Specify whose response will guide the decision before selecting participants or developing the concepts.
What is being proposed, and who will it affect?
Tell us about the service, policy option, or organizational message you need to evaluate. Include the communities or audiences, geography, languages, decision date, and any existing research or materials.
Discuss Your Study