Researching With Workers
Workshop Description:
Most labor research is done on workers, not by workers. In this workshop, we challenge that pattern by exploring participatory research and its potential role in the labor movement. How can we engage workers not just as data points, but as co-researchers? We will start by introducing the principles of participatory research, and then look at how they can apply to different types of labor research, with the goal of building more accurate understandings while also empowering workers directly through the research process. This workshop is meant for anyone interested in more fully engaging workers in their research. It will be run with the same participatory principles we’ll be learning about–expect to engage, contribute, play, and learn.
Workshop Leader:
Shelly Steward is the Chief Research Officer at The Workers Lab, the nation’s home for worker-centered innovation. In this role, she leads participatory action research in partnership with frontline workers across the country. Her research interests include the gig economy, the impact of technology on work, and safety net policy. She is the former director of the Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative and has been a postdoctoral fellow with the Fairwork Project at the Oxford Internet Institute. As someone who is queer and autistic, she strives to make research an accessible and empowering practice for everyone involved. Shelly has a PhD in sociology from UC Berkeley and an AB from Harvard University.
