Research Design

This project uses a comparative, cross-national research design to examine how trust and accountability are shaped across nonprofit sectors in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. The study focuses on four key audiences — operating charities, foundations, government agencies, and the general public — in order to better understand how these groups perceive one another and how those perceptions influence governance, regulation, and democratic participation. Researchers first conduct literature reviews and historical-institutional analyses to develop country profiles that capture differences in regulation, public trust, and social norms across national contexts.​

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The project then gathers qualitative data through two forms of focus groups: Single Audience Focus Groups (SAFGs), which bring together participants from the same sector, and Mixed Audience Focus Groups (MAFGs), which combine participants from different sectors to encourage discussion and evolving perspectives over time. The design allows researchers to compare experiences across countries, cities, and meeting formats while examining how exposure to different viewpoints may shape institutional trust. Following data collection, transcripts and research notes are analyzed using selective coding methods to identify patterns, themes, and cross-national differences related to trust, accountability, and governance.