Observing Civic Engagement Lab
Making civic life visible inside the organizations that shape our communities.
Our research seeks to uncover how people interact within civil society organizations and how those interactions can strengthen organizations, promote civic engagement, and improve quality of life in communities.
We study what goes on inside civil society organizations using an innovative adaptation of the data collection technique known as systematic social observation (SSO). Trained observers attend meetings, events, and activities of organizations and use a specially designed form to record comparable, quantitative data from each gathering.
We have successfully piloted the tools in studies of student organizations and urban community-based organizations. This new approach to measuring what happens in civil society organizations will provide insight into how organizations can conduct their activities in ways that lead to greater civic engagement, endurance, and effectiveness.
For more information, including opportunities to use our research tools, please contact us.
Curious about our research? Check out the explainer document here.
Conducting research where it matters most—in our local communities!
We have documented more than65,000people participating in convenings in our Bloomington project.
Explore the Observing Civic Engagement Lab
Jump to key information about our team, funding, research, and public engagement.
Meet the Team
Learn more about those working behind the scenes of the Observing Civic Engagement Lab.
Project Funding Information
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Project Research
Explore the research outputs and associated works of the Observing Civic Engagement Lab.
Media Coverage and Public Appearances
Read about our media coverage and public appearances where we discuss the project and our findings.
For details on the project tools, research design, media inquiries, or job opportunities, contact our team for more information.
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