Below is a 6 month Phase 1 plan for the project. The 6 months of reserach and planning following the 6 months listed will hinge on findings and knowledge gathered in the first 6 months. We will specify more details on Phase 2 of the project in early spring.
| Research Product | Nov 2025 | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 | Feb 2026 | Mar 2026 | Apr 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RP 1 Bibliography |
Publish academic research bibliography to website | Read and annotate papers for connections to policy ideas, third space blueprints, 21st century politics, megachurch influence | Synthesize literature for publications on website, journals, policy plans, blueprints. | |||
| RP 2 Expanded Datasets |
1) HIRR Megachurch dataset collection 2) Identify Pastor Dems and create dataset | Expand HIRR and Pastor Dems datasets with 1) church/campaign website story content, 2) pastor social media | Identify and develop quantaitve methods for analyzing religious story content in HIRR and campaign content among Pastor Dems | |||
| RP 3 Public Website |
Create website, detail project focus | Push weekly reports to NewSage.Press and Substack. Aim for monotonic growth in audience reach. | ||||
| RP 4 Survey on Religion and Community |
Meet with researchers to hone focus. Identify and contact Pastor Dems for open questions. | Measure collection, refinement, and survey design | Survey administration; analysis | Push repots to website | ||
| RP 5 Interviews with Pastors and Congregants |
Identify and contant potential megachurch pastors and Pastor Dems for interviewing. | Integrate RP4 and RP5 findings into public facing reports | ||||
| RP 6 Creative and Technical Solutions to Problems |
Begin blueprint for improving religion, shared space | Push to website for feedback | Surveys of residents in Phoenix and Los Angeles: What do you want in your next shared space? | |||