What we doResearch
We don’t simply assume that our work is effective – we want to see evidence of that effectiveness.
We integrate research into everything we do, including all of our survivor services, capacity building, and survivor leadership. In addition to ensuring all our programs are informed by research evidence, we prioritize participatory research methods that center survivor voices.
OUR RESEARCH
Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
CBPR is an approach to research that involves close partnership with the community in all stages of research. Survivors have often been excluded from research. Eleison conducts participatory research using innovative methods like photovoice so that survivors can take leadership roles in research and research findings can be used in practical ways that really benefit survivors.
Photovoice is a participatory research methodology in which survivors use photography to define their experiences on their own terms. Survivors take photographs to share their stories, collaborate with researchers on all aspects of the research process, and use study findings to bring about social change.
Program Evaluation
We want to know if our programs are working and why. We build program evaluation into the design and implementation of all our programs so that we can continually learn about how to improve our services and trainings. Survivors deserve to receive high-quality services, and program evaluations are vital to ensuring they receive the best quality care.
Eleison has conducted two evaluations of our savings and financial literacy program, Barug. The first evaluation was a participatory assessment of the program from participants’ own experiences using the photovoice research methodology. The second assessment of Barug was a mixed methods study looking at the impact of participation in Barug on survivors’ financial and psychological well-being.
To learn more, read our first article on FQS and the second evaluation in QSS.
Survivors showing what survivor leadership means to them
Why it matters
Little research exists on human trafficking, especially research evalauting the effectiveness of anti-trafficking programs. Programs won’t get better until more research is conducted to know what works and why. We have an ethical responsibility to survivors and supporters to change this problem.
We have high standards regarding the quality of the research we conduct. We partner with scholars and academic institutions to make sure our studies are rigorous.
We partner with survivors and communities in all our research. We use research findings practically on the ground to support the communities in which we work.
Want to talk to us about our findings?
Published research
Laura Cordisco Tsai
Laura Cordisco Tsai, Ivy Flor Seballos-Llena, & Rabia Ann Castellano-Datta
Laura Cordisco Tsai & Ivy Flor Seballos-Llena
Laura Cordisco Tsai
Laura Cordisco Tsai, Carmina Charmaine G. Domingo, Elizabeth Hentschel, Ran Hu, & Melinda Gill
Laura Cordisco Tsai, Catherine Carlson, Rhea Baylosis, Terriann Nicholson, Chilou Benitez, & Milton Wainberg
Our Research Partners
