Research in Service
Advocacy research is IPSL's unique program of professional skill-building and deep cultural immersion, providing tangible, human-focused data for real-life solutions.
IPSL's partner organizations have few resources to examine their programs in a quantifiable way. Research conducted during your IPSL study abroad program can help these organizations with data that can be used to impact their work and the people they serve.
Original undergraduate student research in Vietnam investigating the effectiveness of traditional plant medicine for pain relief.
Ethics board-reviewed, social-behavioral research in a global setting
For over 40 years, IPSL Institute for Global Learning has focused on ethical, reciprocal, and collaborative service with and for others. In 2012, IPSL launched advocacy research, research in the service of others, out of a desire to take service to the next level. We recognize that students hunger for the opportunity to take on meaningful real-world projects with positive impact that can be measured and sustained.
IPSL’s mission of service is rooted in advocacy for the NGOs and organizations in which IPSL students serve. The IPSL’s Advocacy Research™ Program provides students an opportunity to learn about and engage in professional research to produce relevant, useful information for the benefit of non-profits, NGOs and community development organizations around the world. Unique to the IPSL program, students develop a keen insight into the human research subject ethical review process in an international context with immediate, practical application.
We believe that advocacy research is carried out by people who are deeply concerned about social justice. Their research seeks to measure social problems with a view to increasing awareness and influencing political, economic, and social decision-making.
A student’s service organization abroad serves as the “field study location” and results in data that is at once beneficial to further the IPSL student’s education and career while at the same time being of use to the organization being served. Resource-scarce organizations often have little ability to examine their programs in a quantifiable way. With the assistance of the IPSL student, they are presented with data that can be used to impact their work and the people they serve. Multilateral reciprocity is at the heart of the IPSL Advocacy Research Program.
Affordable Research Review for Institutions, Non-Profits, NGOs, and Individuals
ETHOS Global Review (a legally constituted research review
board) is dedicated to facilitating student research as well as
creating an affordable, accessible, human subject research
review process for individual researchers and low resource
non-profits both here and abroad.
We offer a sliding fee scale to accommodate individual
researchers and small non-profits not backed by an institution
or large private or public research grant. Our goal is to do
everything possible to create an environment where small
organizations and individual researchers have access to data
that creates innovation, promotes service to others and finds
solutions to real-world challenges.
Resource-scarce organizations often have little ability to examine their programs in a quantifiable way. Research through IPSL can help these organizations with data that can be used to impact their work and the people they serve. IPSL is proud to assist in this work by providing professional and affordable research review.
We are happy to discuss your project! Please email us!
Research supporting houseless people and their pets in Los Angeles
Community English Teaching Program Quality Improvement Study:
A Sponsored Research Project in Vietnam
"It is really enjoyable to work with such a motivated group. Although it is early in the research process and we are still fine tuning some details, the amount of energy and help I get from the staff inspires me to do the best work I can for them.
With one survey completed, I have already gained valuable insights that I hope to use in obtaining more concrete and serviceable data for CSDS. The students are quite open about their ideas for improving the English classes.
With their insights and that of the volunteer teachers and staff, I look forward to seeing what ideas we come up with to enhance the learning experience and better outcomes." -- Daniel, Master’s in International Development and Service Alum
Daniel, Master’s in International Development and IPSL Service Alum