Brands, nonprofits and government agencies come to the Ad Council for our knowledge, expertise and assistance in communicating the right message by the right messengers through the right channels to ignite public action in this ever-changing climate. The core tenet of our work is and has always been research, as it’s vital to first understand the public’s knowledge and attitudes in order to move them to act.
With the launch of Ad Council Research Institute (ACRI), we are leveraging our insight-driven approach to examine some of the most important social issues of our time.
With the launch of Ad Council Research Institute (ACRI), we are leveraging our insight-driven approach to examine some of the most important social issues of our time.
Signature Public Study
Substance Use Disorders Study
Who is most impacted by or at risk for substance use disorders, and what would motivate them to explore resources and recovery?
May 30, 2023
Our Focus
Building upon years of research expertise, ACRI works with brand, corporate and nonprofit partners and clients in four ways:
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AUDIENCE
We conduct research to gain a deeper understanding of the public’s perceptions, attitudes and willingness
to act on key social issues. -
COMMUNICATIONS
We develop and test messaging and narratives for social good campaigns and corporate philanthropic initiatives. -
INFLUENCE
We help build new knowledge on the role influencers or trusted messengers (such as online ambassadors, athletes, artists, celebrities, faith and community leaders and content creators) can play to move the public to act. -
EVALUATION
We identify key performance indicators for communications initiatives, and the tools through which to measure, assess and optimize them over time.
Past Public Research
(Dis)Trust in Elections Study
Amid high distrust in the U.S. elections process, how can we—organizations, government entities, election boards and officials—have a better understanding of how to build it back up?
May 10, 2023
Issue Pulse
A quarterly pulse check on Americans' top issues.
June 17, 2022
Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) Study
What do Americans and law enforcement in the 19 states and D.C. with ERPOs know, think and feel about these laws and how they can be used to prevent gun-related tragedies?
April 25, 2023
2022 Trusted Messengers Study
The 2022 Trusted Messengers Study looks at current topics and issues to identify who Americans turn to for real, unbiased information. Learn more and download the report.
November 16, 2022
OUR 2022 RESEARCH AGENDA
- WORKFORCE WELLBEING
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Even before the pandemic, mental health challenges were on the rise across the country. Unsurprisingly, the uncertainty, isolation of COVID-19 pandemic has only heightened these challenges —and employers are taking note.
Today’s employees are dealing with a host of health challenges: mental health, anxiety, loneliness and isolation, and for some, increases in substance abuse. This research area seeks to understand these challenges in order to provide insights for employers to provide meaningful resources for employee health and wellbeing. - FOOD INSECURITY
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As many as one in eight Americans are food insecure. And as the Washington Post wrote in August 2021, “Even a huge increase in food assistance benefits and summer pandemic relief payments may not stave off hunger for millions of Americans.”
This research focus seeks to explore the new face of hunger and those families that are dipping below the poverty line due to COVID to understand who is facing food insecurity so corporations, and government agencies can effectively reach and help them. - UNITY, MISINFORMATION & POLARIZATION
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America is plagued by misinformation and polarization, exacerbated by the 2020 US elections… and it’s challenging the country’s unity.
It’s time to start talking again. This topic identifies those most susceptible to misinformation and looks at how trusted messengers can minimize the startling trend towards discord and foster more constructive dialogue on today’s hot button issues. - HEALTH ACCESS & EQUITY
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The structural barriers that contribute to this country’s health inequities are systemic and longstanding—and the divide continues to deepen. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare these health injustices, especially the disproportionate impact COVID had on communities of color.
This focus area proposes to unearth the nuances of these barriers—like access, medical bias, lack of transportation/infrastructure, mistrust —so brands, organizations and government entities can design initiatives that are rooted in the community and can drive systemic change. - PUBLIC TRUST IN HEALTH & SCIENCE INSTITUTIONS
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Public institutions in America have a trust problem. For example, a survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released in May 2021 shows only about a half of Americans trust the CDC, four in ten trust state and local health departments, and only about a third trust the FDA and NIH.
Given the pandemic, widespread vaccine hesitancy and ever-deepening polarization, it’s critical that the country rebuild trust in public institutions. This focus area will examine why distrust is so prevalent, and what organizations can do to rebuild the public’s trust and faith in these organizations. - WORKFORCE REENTRY
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Formerly incarcerated people have long had a higher rate of unemployment than the general population. According to pre-pandemic research from the Prison Policy Institute, a staggering 27 percent of formerly incarcerated individuals are unemployed, which has likely increased amid COVID.
This research focus will examine the training and re-skilling needs for formerly incarcerated individuals as well as the stigma and bias they face from the public and employers. - RACIAL INEQUALITY
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America has a long, bleak history of racial inequity—and it’s still alive and painfully persistent today. How can we help more Americans fully understand the deep, systemic and current causes of racism today? And what can we all do about it? Recent research reveals the opportunity and challenge before us: Fifty-six percent of white Americans say the country has made a lot of progress on racial issues, but just 20% of Black Americans say the same.
This research area proposes to help Americans understand structural racism in our country. Specifically, we want to explore the historical and current causes of racism, how it’s impacting our society today, and what individuals and organizations can do to meaningfully address these persistent inequities.
CREATIVITY. CAUSES. AND YOU.
Together we can do so much. Let’s talk about how we can partner to help change the world.
ACRI Research Leadership
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Derrick Feldmann
ACRI Managing Director -
Tony Foleno
ACRI Research Director -
Colleen Thompson-Kuhn
Director, Strategic Partnerships & External Engagements
