By Claire Woodward If you lean introverted, the first question you might ask when invited to go somewhere is… how many people will be there? You need to know if a hiking group will have 3 or 25 people. If it’s 3 people, it won’t be hard to talk with everyone (and you’ll likely… Read more »
OCE Lab Methods
We use SSO to capture data.
Expanding The Observing Civic Engagement Lab
By Claire Woodward The Observing Civic Engagement Lab has been operating for 14 years, including projects in Bloomington and Indianapolis. We are excited to expand our research on communities across three new areas across the United States, generously funded by The Trust of Civic Life. The Trust for Civic Life works with more than two… Read more »
Participating Organization Spotlight: Tibetan Buddhist Mongolian Cultural Center
By Claire Woodward We continue to study community organizations, including several faith-based organizations in our research. The Tibetan Buddhist Mongolian Cultural Center (TMBCC) joined our research study in the fall of 2024. If you’re a Bloomington resident, you might know the TMBCC as a unique part of our city’s history. In 1950, Thubten Jigme Norbu,… Read more »
Bowling Alone: Civic Engagement May Be Declining, But It’s Still Happening
By Claire Woodward Twenty-five years ago, Robert Putnam detailed the decline of civic engagement over the latter half of the twentieth century in his iconic book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (2000). Putnam uses the example of bowling leagues to illustrate how Americans have become increasingly disconnected from family, friends,… Read more »
What’s it like being a fly on the wall? Experiences observing organizations from our research assistants
By: Claire Woodward What’s it like to be a fly on the wall? Our team of 25 active research assistants have a unique take on what this experience is actually like. Equipped with a tablet, a room thermometer, and a measurement pen, they often take a seat in a back corner or pew to observe the action. … Read more »
What is a Civil Society Organization?
By: Claire Woodward It’s a Wednesday night. You’re headed out to play basketball with some friends. Or maybe you’re headed to a book club. Or a neighborhood association meeting. Regardless, you’re getting together with other people—practicing community. These associations are all a part of what is known as civil society. A quick Google search would define… Read more »
In the room where it happens
By: Claire Woodward Most of us have participated in some sort of community group: maybe a book club, a religious organization, or a more formal nonprofit community. These experiences might vary widely in terms of size, formality, and function, but they all serve the same purpose of creating community over a shared belief, passion, value, or… Read more »