Cognitive Strategic Analysis
Real Reason has identified a need for a new kind of strategic analysis that will:
- Ensure that vital policy solutions resonate with the public and move people to action
- Convey the complexities of an issue to the public, without distortion or oversimplification
- Rise above short-term issue-specific struggles to sustain long-term cross-issue goals
- Bring policy solutions into conceptual alignment with core democratic principles and values
In response to this need, Real Reason offers strategic services that build on core insights of cognitive linguistics and address the needs of clients working to solve social problems. The ideal partners for this work are those prepared to make an extended commitment to rethinking their strategic priorities.
Real Reason's services are of greatest value after a partner organization has identified preliminary policy goals, but well before it has created communication and dissemination plans:
Cognitive Strategic Initiative (CSI)
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a plan to change the way people conceptualize particular problems and imagine solutions, in order to support values-based, cross-issue, long-term goals
Through sustained engagement, Real Reason helps partners develop cognitive strategic initiatives (CSIs). A CSI is a plan to effect long-term change by shifting people's default reasoning patterns. The best campaigns do not just connect with people on the basis of their current thinking, they also help people consider new ways of thinking. They highlight critical new ideas and reveal connections across issue areas.
Cognitive strategic analysis involves a three-stage process:
- Needs assessment: initial diagnosis, preliminary evaluation of client literature, consultation with key stakeholders, and formulation of research questions
- Research findings: application of Real Reason's methodologies to available language data in order to identify relevant mental models
- Strategic recommendations: assessment of relevant mental models and development of the most promising cognitive strategic initiative
Real Reason helps partner organizations redirect time and energy from fighting short-term battles to sustaining long-term change.
Following from this strategic work, partners can create effective communication and dissemination plans — ones that reinforce and build on the mental models most in alignment with their goals.
In addition to cognitive strategic analysis, client consultations may also include assistance with formulating project plans, refining survey instruments, designing and assessing focus groups and individual interviews, observing and assisting with key meetings, and presenting information to stakeholders.