Paid research fellowship engages students in problem-solving

In 1968, John W. Gardner observed that “young people today wonder whether they have any place in this vast and complicated society of ours.”

That’s why — since the founding of the Gardner Center over 20 years ago — the organization has focused on engaging young people as research partners and participants.

The challenge

Organizations frequently use quantitative data to inform decision-making, but qualitative research can be just as important; the problem is that it can be more difficult to gather in a representative and meaningful way.

"A lot of organizations have quantitative data, but they’re not directly hearing the voices of the students they serve," observes Senior Research Associate Laurel Sipes.

Meanwhile, the depth and intensity of upheaval from the COVID-19 pandemic magnified the importance of understanding the experiences of young people — and then using that information to drive policies, practices, and programs to support them.

The solution

In 2020, the Gardner Center tapped into its deep knowledge and practice of elevating youth voices to launch a Youth Action Research Fellowship that would:

Support community partners with qualitative research insights to inform decision-making
Engage the students they serve in gathering and interpreting that data

Gardner Center staff guide these students throughout a 12–16 week research process, during which students develop research questions, conduct interviews, interpret findings, and deliver recommendations to the organization and key stakeholders.

Student fellows are compensated for the significant amount of time and energy they invest in this effort, which also helps them develop their own critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills.