Innovative Research

The BISCF has been a consistent leader in providing important issue area and direct democracy research. We regularly design and conduct groundbreaking research on voter attitudes and opinions with regard to issues and the direct democracy process. This provides valuable insight into how the public view the role of direct democracy, issues, and their understanding of how the direct democracy process works, and how they prioritize issues important to their lives and communities. 

BISCF has several different approaches to our research that help us support social change advocates as they navigate understanding attitudes about direct democracy and issue areas in their own states.

In 2017, BISCF pioneered the use of the online Trendency research platform for issue research. This unique methodology is non-binary and allows us to see beyond “yes” and “no” responses and into the nuance of public attitudes and opinions. Our Trendency research also provides a longitudinal view of the issue environment over time. With this platform, we can gauge shifts in public perception of their ability to access direct democracy and our democracy as a whole. We can also see shifts in public attitudes on a variety of issues based on important current events. 

BISCF also designs and conducts research that helps us understand public voter attitudes and behavior about voting and direct democracy. We use this data to help inform future work and analyze trends. In conducting this research and pairing it with other types of post-election analysis, we can provide in-depth landscape analysis that informs social change advocates, as well as the Foundation’s work.

Lastly, BISCF conducts research that works to solve ecosystem challenges regarding signature-gathering, resourcing of issue efforts in general, and sustainable and equitable practices. We share this information with our partners, funders, and other stakeholders.