Research: Free Speech and Inclusion
Objective
The objective of this study was to explore the current climate of free speech and inclusion within higher education institutions, particularly how college students navigate and perceive the dynamics of speech and ideological expression on campuses across the United States.
Approach
Research Design: As a research fellow at More in Common, I was a key contributer to a comprehensive survey that aimed to capture a wide array of viewpoints on the topic of free speech and social inclusion.
Survey Execution: We partnered with the nonprofit Constructive Dialogue Institute to develop and administer a national survey to 2,618 college students, using Qualtrics Panels for its robust sampling and the Qualtrics platform for its survey programming.
Data Collection: The survey included a variety of questions designed to measure students’ attitudes towards free speech, “cancel culture,” and their personal experiences with speech on campus. This included demographic data to ensure broad representation across different regions and institution types.
Analysis and Findings
Statistical Analysis: Used statistical methods to analyze the data, focusing on frequences and correlates of students’ political ideologies, experiences of being offended, and their tendencies to engage in or be subjected to call out behaviors.
Exploratory Data Analysis: In the report, we presented quantitative findings in a format simplified for the general public. However, behind the scenes, I conducted in-depth statistical analyses to ensure the robustness of our results. Below is a selection of data visualizations from this extensive analysis. These samples from my exploratory data analysis investigate how beliefs in social justice, termed “Social Justice Orientation” (SJO), relate to other variables.
Tools Used
Qualtrics: Used for survey programming due to its best-in-class survey platform.
Statistical Software: Analysis was conducted using R, which facilitated rigorous examination of the data to identify trends and draw meaningful conclusions.
Team Coordination Tools: Leveraged project management and communication tools (Asana, Slack) to coordinate research activities among team members spread across organizations and geographic locations.