CONTEXTUAL

ANALYTICS

Research-driven strategies for organizations that help people.

Thoughtful, rigorous data collection and analysis.

The ability to respond to cultural, social, and situational factors.

A holistic approach to solution design.

Does context

really matter?

Understanding context makes your work more relevant, sustainable, and adaptable.

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    Strategy

    The world is moving faster than ever. See change coming and navigate it intelligently. Socio can give you deep, human insights so you don't get the big decisions wrong.

  • Group of six people working on laptops around a dining table with a potted plant in a rustic room with large windows, some wearing headphones.

    Collaboration design

    Complex problems require new ways of thinking. Collaboration across cultural and sectoral boundaries can unlock innovation but requires understanding the perspectives each collaborator brings with them.

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    Social impact

    Design solutions that work by understanding the social contexts in which they will be deployed. Then measure what matters and adapt. See your work through the eyes of those it serves.

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    Research-based content

    Give your audience something worth tuning in for. Build credibility by showing them that you understand what matters to them.

    Do both at the same time.

Know what’s happening.

Make a difference.

  • See through the eyes of the people you serve.

  • Measure what matters most.

  • Be guided by established social science.

  • Make human-centered decisions.

  • Report your insights to stakeholders, internal teams, grantmakers, and more.

Who we work with

Socially-Responsible Businesses

More and more, customers reward transparency and ethics in business, but many companies struggle to align profits with social good. We help leaders navigate complexity and turn it into innovation. Doing well doesn’t have to come at the expense of doing good.

Nonprofits & Social Impact Leaders

Many social enterprises have a compelling mission statement but struggle to achieve meaningful change. We help them develop strategies based on a holistic view of target populations, which in turn means more buy-in from stakeholders, employees and funders.

Educators

Schools are often tasked with addressing social problems that are deeply entrenched by the time they manifest in the classroom. Our contextual approach and decades of expertise help educators address issues—like intergenerational poverty—that originate outside of school but drastically affect school outcomes.

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Getting started

  • Send us a brief description of your organization and its goals, as well as any big questions you’ve got stirring. We’ll set up a call where we can gather the additional details we need to put together a proposal.

  • In many cases, we can have the best impact by working hand-in-hand with your internal teams to perform ongoing research, evaluation, and even trainings. This is a great way to get your whole organization thinking more contextually.

    In such cases, we'll propose a retainer agreement with a broad scope of work so we can meet your changing needs. You can think of us as your in-house research, evaluation, and strategy team.

  • Sometimes all you need is one big research project to help untangle a particularly difficult challenge. That's just fine with us.

    After performing a preliminary review of relevant literature, we’ll craft a custom research proposal including timeline and price estimates, research methods, and project objectives. Often, a grant has already been secured at this point. If not, the proposal (and literature review in particular) can often be incorporated into a grant application.

  • We’ll carry out custom research, analyze the data, and summarize findings to you and your team. If needed, we can craft custom reports for customers, board members, granting organizations, or policymakers.

  • Now that you have a more complete picture of the context in which you're working, you can solve problems, collaborate, and navigate change more effectively.

We help the change-makers

Logo with blue circular grid pattern and text 'CIRCLES UTAH VALLEY' in the center.
Circular logo with a multicolored swirl in the center and the words "Intergenerational," "We Fared Reformed Commission" encircling it.
Seal of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs featuring an eagle with outstretched wings holding a staff with a star, set against a background with stars and stripes, and encircled by a rope border.
United Way of Salt Lake logo featuring a hand holding a person with outstretched arms and a rainbow overhead.
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    Benjamin Gibbs, PhD

    CO-FOUNDER

    Dr. Gibbs is a professor in the department of sociology at Brigham Young University. He earned his PhD at Ohio State University in 2009 and has published on a wide range of topics including early childhood development, education, intergenerational poverty and more. He has helped numerous organizations and governments to remove obstacles and to enable individuals and families to succeed.

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    Lance Erickson, PhD

    CO-FOUNDER

    Dr. Erickson is a professor in the department of sociology at Brigham Young University and an applied statistics expert. He earned his PhD at UNC Chapel Hill in 2005. He is a seasoned specialist in data analysis, survey construction, and research methodology. His attention to detail makes any project more likely to achieve its intended objectives.

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    Jacob Wixom

    CO-FOUNDER / MANAGING PARTNER

    Jacob is an applied sociologist with experience in ethnography, consumer research, and organizational consulting. Some of his recent work includes two years consulting on a collaborative engineering project based in the Brazilian Amazon, qualitative analysis of several education initiatives, agency work with 100+ SMEs, and partner marketing for a Fortune 100 tech company.