| Session Title: Implementing the Bellwether Methodology: Lessons From Two Fast-Paced, Real-Time Advocacy Evaluations |
| Demonstration Session 690 to be held in San Clemente on Friday, Nov 4, 1:35 PM to 2:20 PM |
| Sponsored by the Advocacy and Policy Change TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Steve Mumford, Organizational Research Services, smumford@organizationalresearch.com |
| Joelle Cook, Organizational Research Services, jcook@organizationalresearch.com |
| Abstract: Through the Bellwether Methodology, developed by the Harvard Family Research Project, evaluators conduct structured interviews with individuals in the public and private sectors whose positions require that they track a broad range of policy issues. To help elicit authentic and unprompted responses regarding policy priorities, bellwethers are not informed in advance of the interview's specific policy focus. This approach helps determine where an issue stands on the policy agenda, providing actionable data to advocates and funders to inform messaging and advocacy strategies as well as data on changes in political will over time. ORS applied the methodology to real-time evaluations of two advocacy campaigns examining political will for public library funding and education reform among local and state policymakers, respectively. This session will share lessons related to sampling, protocol design, interview scheduling and set-up, reporting, use of the method at multiple time points, and important considerations for the overall approach. |