Research Solutions for Non-Profit Organizations Working with Young People

Our research team, trained in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research, doesn’t just collect data. We analyze it for you to determine key themes and patterns. 

Qualitative interviews help you understand the ‘why’ and ‘how.’ Our interview methods reveal complex meanings and motivations underlying social phenomena. Using a detailed coding scheme, we work to show just how young people make sense of their lives—in their own words. 

Guided by your program goals or grant objectives, we choose research methods that can assess strengths, progress, and areas to grow. By listening systematically to stakeholders, we give you a way to know whether you are actually achieving what you hope to achieve, measuring success along the way. 

We use original measures and field-tested scales to identify relevant patterns and trends and gain a deeper understanding of your core audience’s characteristics, behaviors, opinions, and experiences. 

Our questionnaire design, survey platform development, pretesting, fielding, and distribution support drive results to meet your goals. 

Compass offers non-profit organizations an affordable, pre-built survey option that empowers young people to share how your organization is doing to meet their needs. 

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Let us help you identify actionable, research-based next steps from key challenges you’re facing. We’ll offer support and specific suggestions as you discern ways that research can benefit your specific situation. Whether you use our reports to plan your next steps or partner with us for internal research, our consulting services will provide expertise and bring clarity.

Sometimes you just have to “be there.” We collect and share observational and ethnographic data gathered through in-person visits, interviews, focus groups, conferences, events, and daily activities. 

Our experienced moderators guide focus groups—whether remote or in-person—to put together a trustworthy account of who belongs to your core audience. With questions customized to your objectives, we consider how group dynamics like age and power affect groups. We also offer pre-screening and direct communication with participants. 

Our research team collaborates with you to determine the best approach for your specific questions. Creative, tailored approaches we’ve used include meeting with a group of small stakeholders, creating panels of young people who can react to the data, conducting participatory action research, and more.  

We create data visualizations and narrative illustrations of findings in printed or digital formats. We can present your data at your next in-person or virtual board meeting, conference, or gathering. 

GIS Mapping captures and displays location-based data. We simplify the complex ways that location influences experience, allowing you to see patterns and relationships.