Research Methodologies

Our goal with HumaneSpot.org is to help animal and environmental advocates be more effective by empowering them with informative research. During the two and a half years since we launched HumaneSpot.org, I'm pleased to say our user base has grown significantly and we consistently receive positive feedback. To help advocates get even more from using HumaneSpot.org, here are a few essential tips and resources...

We hear a lot these days about the power of "telling stories" to persuade people to change their attitudes, to donate, etc. Although I'm a big fan of data and hard numbers, there's good evidence that they do not make compelling outreach material for most audiences. This may be particularly true for animal issues, where the number of animals on farms and in shelters and laboratories is staggeringly high and difficult for many people to comprehend.

If you are currently receiving the HumaneSpot.org email alerts or using the website for your research, please consider supporting HRC as we seek to upgrade our computers to better serve our clients and the animal protection movement. To learn more about our need for new equipment, please read this message that I sent to HRC's email list last week.

I thought you might enjoy this interview that HRC's Anthony Bellotti recently conducted with Mike Markarian, Executive Vice President of the Humane Society of the U.S. Mike discusses the new Shelter Pet Project launched with Maddie's Fund and the Ad Council, focusing on how research played an essential role in developing the project.

Another interesting article from the Stanford Social Innovation Review provides examples of what the author calls "Catalytic Philanthropy." In a nutshell, the concept involves strategic, concentrated, and typically large investments of resources to achieve a specific instrumental change in the status quo. The model has successfully reduced meth use in Montana and increased math literacy in California; could it also be applied to animal protection?

Written in 2006, this concise four-page guide addresses how to interpret research studies, including listing twelve important questions to ask about a study's purpose, its author, and the significance of its results, among other things. These are key questions for animal advocates to ask themselves when evaluating secondary research or conducting their own studies.

HRC recently announced our latest collaborative research study designed to measure the progress of the U.S. animal advocacy movement. Supported by both organizational sponsors and contributions from individuals, the new study is a truly collaborative project designed to inexpensively gather reliable data. The new study will be on ongoing resource showing the status of animal protection in the U.S. according to a set of "key indicators." To learn more, please read our email to HRC's supporters...

While working with animal groups on research studies and strategic planning, I often emphasize setting clear and measurable goals. Goals are important, especially for a relatively “young” cause such as animal protection, which arguably has much to learn from those in the corporate and academic worlds. However, a recent paper from Harvard Business School suggests that goals are overused and incorrectly applied in many situations. The analysis is certainly worth reading, if only to understand the potential downsides when setting your own goals.