The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of...
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![Page 1: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research
on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen
The Catholic University of America
![Page 2: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
It would be dreadful . . . if it were true
• The request
• The rebuttal
• The research*
*see note pages
![Page 3: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Good reasons to teach research to law students:
• Give students new tools for problem solving• Help students become better consumers of data• Strengthen community partnerships• Good class, clinic, independent study, or pro
bono project• Promote change• Teach policy*
*see note
![Page 4: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Right now: Select a topicIt would be dreadful, if it were true
• A law, regulation, or policy is not followed• A rule has a harsh effect on one person or
group • Someone fails to meet an obligation• A need goes unmet
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The Most Important Thing
• Find the “right-sized” research project
![Page 6: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Questions to ask:• Who knows what?– Statutes and regulations– Published reports– Literature reviews– Informational interviews
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Questions to ask:
• Can you get your hands on the data?– Does it exist?– Can you have it?– Is there an easier way to get it?
![Page 8: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Questions to ask:• Are there any hoops to jump through?
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)Institutional Review Board (IRB)*
*see note pages
![Page 9: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Questions to ask:
• How many students will work on the project?• What background do they need to have?• Will they all have the same role? • Should you name a student as project
manager?
![Page 10: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Questions to ask:
• How much time do you have?– Academic calendar– How long it will take– The needs of community partners– The shelf-life of the topic
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Things to think about:
![Page 12: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Things to think about:
• Two key concepts
– Reliability (reproducibility)
– Validity (measure reflects the underlying concept)
![Page 13: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Things to think about:
• Surveys will be trouble– Don’t use surveys when “revealed preferences” are
available– Craft questions carefully– How you ask question is as important as what you ask– Think about tomorrow when you draft questions today– Limit the number of questions– Limit open-ended questions– Ask for help
![Page 14: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Things to think about:
• Reporting your results
– Formal or informal?
– Find a format
– Brand your product
– Create an executive summary
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Things to think about:
![Page 16: The Plural of Anecdote is not Data: Teaching Law Students to Conduct Empirical Research on Behalf of Community Partners Faith Mullen The Catholic University.](https://reader036.fdocuments.in/reader036/viewer/2022082611/56649e675503460f94b63379/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Things to think about:
• Keep moving parts to a minimum– Variables– Sources of data– Scope of research – Stakeholders
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Things to think about:
• Learn from my mistakes– Write up methodology as you go– Conduct a pre-test (but exclude results)– Be at peace with making choices (just be transparent)– Practice with students how to conduct research– Realize it will take longer than you think