Community-Engaged Research

Several Westat projects use equity-centered, culturally responsive tools and frameworks as foundational blocks, and others strive to ensure inclusive participation in research, tailoring opportunities to the needs of individuals and communities, often as defined by them. This approach is grounded in our understanding of the role that individual and intersecting identities play in experiences and outcomes.

Disproportionately Affected Populations

Westat has longstanding experience in designing and carrying out research that looks at social, health, and education programs and policies and their impact on groups who have been historically marginalized. Our researchers bring demonstrated expertise and sensitivity in examining disparities in health, education, employment, housing, and other social areas and recognize the importance of involving diverse voices in research, evaluations, technical assistance, and studies meant to improve equity.

Equitable Evaluation Design

Westat evaluators aim to acknowledge culture and context and include a diversity of beliefs and lived experiences in equitable evaluations across evaluation phases, such as team building, evaluation design, data collection, and dissemination. Through professional development activities, trainings, and communities of practice, we work together to bring the best ideas forward to meet our client’s goals. Our network of partnerships helps us to engage with and give a voice to individuals whose experiences we seek to understand. Equitable design acknowledges that equity doesn’t happen by chance, but with intent and focus.

Evidence and Equity Collaborative

The Evidence and Equity Collaborative, initiated by the leadership of Westat and eight partner organizations in the professional services industry, represents more than 20,000 employees. We have joined forces to support diversity in our workplaces, strengthen inclusive practices in programs and policy research, and build a foundation for equitable analysis ready to inform systems, policies, and programs across the nation. Individually, we seek to address inequity within our own workforces by improving pathways into our organizations and practices around the recruitment, development, advancement, and retention of all staff, particularly those from historically under-served communities. As a group, we are facilitating cross-organizational learning on best practices and promoting a greater understanding of how research methods must evolve to better reflect considerations of cultural competence, equity, and justice.