UpComing Events Details

People around the world are working towards influencing Internet policymaking processes and raise awareness about the importance of protecting the open Internet. Given this background, there is a clear need to link relevant and methodologically sophisticated Internet policy research with advocacy and policy efforts.

Building on the success of the Internet Policy Research Methods Course for Advocates held in Istanbul in 2015, the Annenberg School for Communication at University of Pennsylvania’s Internet Policy Observatory has teamed up with the Centre for Communication Governance at National Law University, Delhi, the Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore and the Digital Asia Hub to organise the Research Methods Workshop for Internet Policy in South and Southeast Asia. The workshop is scheduled from April 10 - 14, 2017 at National Law University, Delhi. 

The workshop brings together young scholars, lawyers, activists, policy enthusiasts and technologists for an intensive five day practicum on using methodologically rigorous, data driven, and contextually appropriate research for policy change and advocacy. The workshop is designed to cover both qualitative and quantitative, online and offline research methods, providing the space for hands on activities and project based learning. The program aims to strategically build collaborative possibilities across sectors, expand research capacity within practitioner and digital rights advocacy communities, and to provide the skills and know-how to use research and data to advance advocacy efforts.

 The program will provide skill-building tutorials on the following topics:

§  Defining and framing research topics and questions

§  Conducting desk and archival research

§  Researching law, policy and regulation

§  Questionnaire/interview design and techniques

§  Conducting surveys and public opinion research

§  Network measurement

§  Social network analysis

§  Data visualization

§  Translating research into action: dissemination for advocacy and policymaking impact

§  Developing proposals for funding and creating actionable research agendas

The participants will have a particular area of interest related to Internet governance and policymaking, censorship, surveillance, Internet access, political engagement online, protection of human rights online, or corporate governance in the ICT sector. Participants will be asked to bring a specific research question to the program to be developed and operationalized through trainings and one on one mentorship with top researchers and experts from around the world.