Guiding Questions Advance Equity in Evaluation and Research
Guiding Questions to Advance Equity in Evaluation and Research, a new publication from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, helps researchers, evaluators and funders embed equity-focused practices into their work. The report provides a set of flexible, adaptable questions to foster a common approach for researchers, evaluators and funders to apply equity-centered principles to the studies they commission and oversee.
“The guiding questions have helped Casey staff turn the Foundation’s commitment to equity in evaluation and research into actionable steps to negotiate what can feel like an overwhelming process,” said Kimberly Spring, the Foundation’s director of Research and Evaluation. “Our goal was to provide not a rigid checklist but a series of questions that others can use to identify blind spots and think more deeply and concretely about advancing equity.”
Developing an Equity-Focused Approach to Research
Recognizing that data show children and families of color often face the greatest barriers to success, in 2017, the Foundation’s Research and Evaluation team began to develop an equity-focused approach to its work. Its survey of research showed evaluation findings were strengthened by incorporating the perspectives of those most affected by a project, practice or policy.
Influenced by the Equitable Evaluation Framework and the Foundation’s Race Equity and Inclusion Action Guide, Guiding Questions stresses the importance of being aware of racial and cultural contexts and seeking solutions that reflect the collective wisdom of researchers, practitioners, youth and communities.
The questions cover each stage of a research or evaluation project, including the choice of members of a project team, research methodology, analysis of data and the dissemination of findings. The questions and associated worksheets emphasize the importance of ensuring that those affected by a study are fully engaged in every phase of it.
How to Use the Guiding Questions
Guiding Questions acknowledges that there is no single way to incorporate equity principles into a study. Users should adjust, add or omit questions to make this resource relevant to their needs. Examples of how the guiding questions might be used include:
- helping a research team examine its assumptions and biases in a nonthreatening way;
- designing a study that reflects differences in the experiences and outcomes for various racial groups;
- ensuring that a study considers how systems and structures create or maintain racial inequities; and
- developing processes to help community members interpret and use the findings from a study.
Five Key Actions for Equity-Focused Practice
In developing the guiding questions, Casey staff identified five key actions that may help other funders embed equity-focused practices into their research and evaluation work:
- Set aside time for the process. Staff found they needed flexibility to expand their thinking beyond traditional research methods and to develop new practices and approaches.
- Examine current practices. Start by examining current practices to incorporate equity in research and begin building on them. This can help a potentially overwhelming shift in practice feel doable and encourage approaches that are relevant and grounded in the team’s work.
- Give a significant role to all team members. Ensure that all members contribute to developing an approach that is right for your organization.
- Test your ideas. Small pilot projects that can provide opportunities to gain insights into processes such as engaging community and youth leaders in research projects.
- Engage communications colleagues. Partner to clearly explain what is meant by incorporating equity in research and evaluation and how incorporating equity principles can lead to greater rigor and more significant findings.
In addition to the questions and worksheets, Guiding Questions includes a list of resources that provide definitions, practical advice and strategies for integrating equity into research and evaluation.
