Policy Research Project Final Paper
A
big factor in how well research is received and perceived by an audience and
the stakeholders is in the presentation of the study. Not all professional
settings require a live-format presentation, but in all cases, studies need to
be documented coherently for review, analysis, or reproduction. Particularly in
the public sphere, the acceptance of a study as valid in its conclusions can be
tied to grant monies crucial to the continuation of research or the
implementation of actions or policies tied to the research.
Write a 2,100- to
2,450-word paper on your research. Address the following in your paper:
- Clearly explain your research and the
problems it aims to solve in society and that clearly states the
hypotheses you intend to prove or disprove, if applicable. - Explain the research design,
including methods used in collecting and analyzing the gathered data. - Provide
logical visual representations of the results of the analysis. - Present
data, analysis, findings, and conclusions in an organized and persuasive
way. - Apply
statistical significance to test hypotheses. - Discuss
the impact of the research and its findings on the problem you originally
identified. - Examine
the application of your research as public policy to improve society. - Detail
the policy decisions that can be made based on your research. - Identify
the reliability and validity of conclusions. - o Incorporate instructor feedback from previous
project deliverables. - Instructor feedback here: You mentioned several different research designs in your draft. Only one research design is needed. And that is using published literature to help you draw conclusions. You can use the University Library to ensure that you access peer reviewed scholarly articles that are related to your topic. You mentioned triangulation. You can triangulate between different studies that reach the same conclusions that answer your research questions or hypotheses. Please note that a null and alternative hypothesis is needed with your project.
I do think that you are trying to research more than is necessary. I recommend selecting a research problem. Developing hypotheses to solve the research problem, and then use a research design that involves collecting research/data from published scholarly sources to answer your research questions/hypotheses, and then present your findings with charts and graphs where applicable.
The economic outcomes of equal rights, protections, and recognitions under
the law for LGBTQIA+ community members vary by country. Let’s look at the
findings for the United States, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Canada
individually:
This research project investigates the connection
between LGBTQIA+ inclusion through equal rights, protections, and recognition
under the law and the economic outcomes in the United States measured up and
compared to other countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, and Canada, emphasizing
the need to enact comprehensive policy reform/change at the federal level in
the US, such as the Equality Act. Prior research has explored the connection
between the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ inclusion through equal rights, protections,
and recognition under the law and economic development. Previous research and
reports have provided substantial evidence that the lack of LGBTQIA+ people’s equal
rights, protections, and recognition under the law directly impacts economic
development negatively. Decreased workforce participation and entrepreneurship,
lower or lack of sufficient productivity, underinvestment of human capital, and
resource allocation are considered the building blocks of economic growth and
development. “Economic development is the broad macroeconomic outcome,
measured for each country by per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and the
Human Development Index (HDI)” (Badgett, Nezhad, Waaldijk, & Rodgers, 2014).
“Considering the economic perspective challenges us to think about what we lose
when any group is denied full and equal participation in society,” states M.V.
Lee Badgett.
Two studies, one titled “The
relationship between LGBT inclusion and economic development: Macro-level
evidence, 2019″ and the second study titled “Links between economic
development and new measures of LGBT inclusion, 2018,” have explored and
examined the progress toward legal inclusion as indicators that can impact a
country’s economic growth. “
.
Further supporting this, examines the legal and social inclusion of LGBT
individuals and how this is correlated with economic development (Badgett,
Flores – 2018 – apark.net). The paper highlights the importance of legal
rights for same-sex couples and
Sadly, in the absence of federal legislation, the landscape
of legal protections for LGBTQI+ Americans remains complex and inconsistent.
It’s not a universal cure to every problem but
the first step towards equality.
Furthermore, “Examining the consequences of
anti-LGBT practices across multiple countries, including the US, Canada, the
UK, Australia, India and the Philippines, Badgett reveals the expensive
repercussions of hate and discrimination, and how our economy loses when we
miss out on the full benefit of LGBT people’s potential contributions and the
positives of LGBT inclusion, equal rights and protections” (The Economic Case
for LGBT Equality: Why Fair and Equal Treatment Benefits Us All, M.V. Lee
Badgett, May 2020).
The economic outcomes of equal rights, protections, and recognitions under
the law for LGBTQIA+ community members vary by country. Let’s look at the
findings for the United States, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Canada
individually:
United States: Research suggests that state protection of
marriage equality increases the economic wellbeing of LGBT individuals. For
instance, in first-mover states before the Supreme Court ruling of United
States v. Windsor, the findings show that marriage equality had positive
economic consequences (Journal of
Business Ethics, 2021 – Springer). Additionally, not all non-discrimination
laws are created equal, and the legal differences in these laws can
significantly impact LGBT employment protections and labor market outcomes (Journal of
Labor Research, 2018 – Springer).
Sweden: In Sweden, the introduction of registered
partnership affected labor earnings and fertility for same-sex couples. This
suggests that the legal recognition of same-sex relationships can have tangible
economic effects on the lives of LGBT individuals (Demography,
2015 – Duke University Press).
Netherlands: The Netherlands has been at the forefront of
LGBT rights in Europe, and the country’s acceptance of LGBT individuals is
reflected in its high rankings in terms of human rights. The fuller enjoyment
of human rights by LGBT people contributes to the country’s economic
development (World
Development, 2019 – Elsevier).
Canada: In Canada, LGBT equality has been a part of the
country’s history, and the movement has made significant strides in progressing
towards equal rights. However, despite these advancements, there are still
challenges that need to be addressed, such as economic disparities and the need
for further protections (Oxford
Research Encyclopedia of Politics, 2019 – oxfordre.com).
Overall, these countries demonstrate that legal and social inclusion of LGBT
individuals correlates with positive economic outcomes, but the level of impact
and areas of improvement vary. The studies emphasize the importance of
continuing to advance equal rights and protections for the LGBT+ community to
promote both social justice and economic development.
In my research the
Hypothesis:
Adopting and
implementing comprehensive equal rights legislation for the LGBTQIA+ community correlates
with positive economic outcomes. Countries that actively support LGBTQIA+
inclusivity and equality benefit from more job creation, effective utilization
of human capital, higher GDP per capita, enhanced innovation, and an expanded
consumer base, collectively contributing to significant economic growth and
development of a versatile economy. This also can attract foreign investment
and development that recognizes such progression and stability, making it more
appealing for business operations.
This hypothesis is
grounded in the factual principles that discrimination imposes costs, whereas
inclusivity translates into a more productive society and positive economic
outcomes. A mixed methodology of quantitative, qualitative data, comparative, and
correlational analysis of economic markers across timeframes and geographic
locations such as the Netherlands, Sweden, and Canada versus the United States
will be examined and carried out to test this hypothesis empirically. This hypothesis
is to test whether or not the United States will experience equal or similar
tangible economic growth and development in its economy if the country were to officially
pass legislation known as the Equality Act, introduced on March 19th,
2019.
Alternative Hypothesis:
Adopting and implementing comprehensive equal rights legislation for the
LGBTQIA+ community positively correlates with economic outcomes. Countries that
support LGBTQIA+ inclusivity and equality experience significant increases in
job creation, more effective utilization of human capital, higher GDP per
capita, enhanced innovation, and an expanded consumer base, leading to
substantial economic growth and a more versatile economy. This inclusivity also
attracts foreign investment and development due to perceived progression and
stability, making these countries more appealing for business operations.
Therefore, should the United States pass the Equality Act, it is expected to
observe tangible economic growth and development comparable to that of the
Netherlands, Sweden, and Canada.
Section: Research design.
Triangulation design is the non-experimental research
design of choice as it involves mixed methodologies combining both qualitative
and quantitative for data collection coincidently and analyzing them separately,
then comparing the derived results to identify convergence or divergence. This
design aids in mitigating potential biases and offers a comprehensive
understanding of the research topic or phenomena. The approach utilized in the
design includes case studies, content analysis, and secondary data analysis.
In the “Links Between Economic Development and
New Measures of LGBT Inclusion,” written by authors M.V. Lee Badgett, Andrew
Park, and Andrew Flores at the Williams Institute UCLA School of Law, they find
“a good measure of LGBTQIA+ inclusion that can be compared across countries and
over time.”
In my study, I will be utilizing three
measures of inclusion which derives from its to aid me in structuring my
argument to test my hypothesis.
Mixed methodologies in research design involve
combining qualitative and quantitative methods to gain a more comprehensive
understanding of a research problem. In this case, non-experimental data
collection se
The
reason behind
Throughout the research process,
I have come to found that there are common
themes among the studies which is the data, measurements they use to identify
and assess the phenomena
The research instruments to collect data and
the research design.
Section: logical visual representations of the
results of the analysis.
Section: data, analysis, findings, and
conclusions.
Qualitative research: What, how, when, why and
from where specify the key dependent, explanatory, and control variables to
gain a greater understanding of the social and political phenomena.
Stages
Well-developed research question.
Parameters around a research question.
Describe methods well and follow a scientific
method. Types
Content analysis, extracting facts and figures
from the content, the initial study year, and the level at which the issue was
at the time of the initial study as compared to the present day.
Section: Application of the statistical
significance to test hypotheses.
- Discuss
the impact of the research and its findings on the problem you originally
identified.
The impact of the research I conducted folds
over into each other and has been continued to be researched by other
researchers.
In a 2019 study published by the University of
Massachusetts in Amherst, MA, researchers found that “To assess how economic
harms caused by limitations or lack of LGBTQIA+ rights are related to the
macroeconomy, the GILRHO index created by Dutch law professor and study
co-author Kees Waaldijk, covers eight categories of legal
recognition and protection for LGB people, such as decriminalization,
anti-discrimination and partnership recognition, assigning each right with one
point. They found that the addition of just one additional point on the
GILRHO scale is associated with an increase in real GDP per capita of just over
$2,000 and that estimates of the cost of exclusion suggest that 6-22 percent of
this sum ‘could plausibly reflect the GDP costs of excluding LGB individuals
from a full range of legal rights” (M.V. Lee Badgett, 2019).
This
Studies have shown that when countries protect
LGBTQIA+ rights, it can positively impact their economy. For example, it can
attract more businesses, boost tourism, and increase productivity, innovation,
and social participation.
One example is the Netherlands. They have been
at the forefront of LGBTQIA+ rights, resulting in significant economic
benefits. Amsterdam, in particular, has established itself as a business and
tourism hub, attracting visitors from all over the world. Sweden is another
example of a country that has prioritized LGBTQIA+ rights while also
maintaining a strong economy. It is one of the most welcoming cities in the
world. Its welcoming atmosphere and vibrant community have helped to attract
tourists and expats from all over the globe. These are just a few examples;
there are many more countries where LGBTQIA+ rights have benefited the economy.
Canada is another country that has made
significant progress in defending LGBTQIA+ rights and fostering an inclusive
society. Iceland has long been recognized for its progressive stance on
LGBTQIA+ issues, and it has a thriving LGBTQIA+ community. Furthermore, other
countries, such as Norway, Spain, and New Zealand, have made strides in
protecting and embracing the LGBTQIA+ community, promoting equality. These are
just a few examples; many more countries are working to promote LGBTQIA+
rights, protections, and inclusion. In this paper, we will compare two
countries with the United States.
“Changes in X (Public Policy) must precede
changes in Y (Economy) as in positive economic outcomes in the United States
due to the change in time, which means that they demonstrate the proper
temporal order.” Chapter 6 Guidance Snippet
to stay on the hypothesis track for testing.
utilizing a mixed-method approach
of economic development that contribute to
Continuous quality improvement
In my research, I will be utilizing a mixed-method
approach involving quantitative and qualitative secondary data and comparative
and correlational analysis
This,, in turn,, would amend the “1964 Civil
Rights Act to extend federal nondiscrimination protections to LGBTQI+ Americans
based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and
other services as well as access to public accommodations and expand on Tittle
2 and 42” (Sage, 2022 & CNN, 2021).
Based on the data that I have collected on other
countries regarding this matter, I am applying the statistical model to
calculate the likelihood of similar positive economic outcomes in the United
States if they were to follow through with enacting legislation/policy change
such as the Equality Act.
Outlets for information gathering:
The International Gay and Lesbian Rights
Commission (IGLHRC)
International Lesbian and Gay Association ILGA
Gross Domestic Product GDP and the Human
Development Index HDI
Global Index on Legal Recognition of
Homosexual Orientation and the Transgender Rights Index.
“Economic development is the broad
macroeconomic outcome, measured for each country by per capita gross domestic
product and the human development index” according to a research by M.V. Lee
Badgett, Sheila Nezhad, Kees Waaldijk, Yana van der Meulen Rodgers titled “the
relationship between LGBT inclusion and economic development: emerging
economies
(Nov, 2014).
References: