This document discusses considerations for researching existing social action organizations to help with a campaign for Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). It notes that looking at three different organizations would provide a diverse range of information without being one-sided. The research would examine elements like how organizations operate, communicate, and undertake activities. Sensitivity is important in researching social issues that help disadvantaged groups. Organizations may not want to share all information, but alternative groups could be examined. Finished materials may be displayed in coastal areas and published nationwide to raise awareness of coastal problems and solutions individuals can implement. Funding can be an issue for SAS as their work is voluntary, requiring fundraising and charity events to support printing materials and environmental work.

1. Aims and Considerationssheet
ExistingProducts:
How manyexistingartefactsdoyoufeel youwillneedtolookat?
In termsof existingartefactstoresearchIbelieve lookingatthree differentorganisationswillbe
sufficientformyresearch.This isbecause itallowsme tolookat a wide range of differentsocial
actionorganisationsandbalance myresearch,ratherthanresearchingone organisationand
endingupwithone-sidedandheavilymisrepresentingresults.Thisvarietyof artefactsallowsme
to forma strongerdiversifiedfinalopinion.
What kindsof artefactsare youexpectingtolookat?
The range of artefactsthat will be researchedforthisprojectincludesdifferentsocial action
organizationsthatrunsimilarcampaignstowhatthe SAS ishopingto achieve.Thisincludes
campaignsthat are aimingto improve the environmentaroundcoastal areas,orin broadertermsa
groupthat is tryingto improve litterstandardsacrossthe entiretyof the UnitedKingdom, eitherby
callingforheaviersanctionsforlitteringorbycleaninguplitterthemselveswithteamsof
volunteers.
What elementswill youlook attohelpyouwithyourresearch?
The elementsIwill lookatformy researchincludeshow theseexistingorganizationsoperate,such
as what formatsof mediatheyincorporate tocommunicate withthe public,andthe contentthey
use for these advertisements.Iwill alsolookatthe activitiesthatthe groupundertakesandhow
theygo aboutthem,whetherornot theyreceive supportfromthe governmentfortheiractionsor
if theyare an independentgroupthatusesvolunteerstoaccomplishthings.
Considerations:
Why mightyouneedtobe sensitive whencarryingoutresearch onsocial actionissues?
Sensitivityisneededwhenresearchingsocial issuesbecause manycausesare dedicatedtohelping
people whoare otherwisedisadvantagedordonothave the same rightsas others,meaningthat
theysufferdiscriminationorprosecutionforwhotheyare.Otherorganizationsmaybe dedicated
to helpingpeople whoare physically/mentallydisabled,therefore itisimportanttoensure that
due care isgivenwhenresearchingsuchorganizationsandthatyoudo not intrude onanyone’s
privacyor cause upset.
Couldyouface any problemswhentryingto researchsocial actionissues?If so,isthere away to
overcome these?
The problemsthatmightbe encounteredduringthe researchprocessinclude the factthatsome
organizationsmightnotbe as willingtoshare theirinformationasothers,whichwouldmake it
hard to conductresearchintothat particularorganization.Toovercome this,we canlookintoa
differentorganizationthatismore openaboutwhat theydoand whattheytry and fightfor.
Where wouldyou expectyourfinishedpiecestobe displayedanddistributed?
WhenI complete mypiecesforthissocial actioncampaignIcan expectthemtobe displayedin
coastal areas that sufferahigherlevel of waste andlitter,asthe presence of agroupthat is
combatingsucha problemwill likelystrengthentheirtieswiththe local community.Ican also
expectthe material producedbyourcampaignto be publishedaroundthe country,helping
ordinarypeople knowaboutthe problemsthatthe coastline facesandwhat theyas a personcan
do to help.
What fundingissues mightanorganisationlike SurfersAgainstSewage (SAS) face?
Issuesthatmay arise include the factthattheirwork isentirelyvoluntary,inthattheyare notpaid
for whattheydo bythe governmentorthe public.Thismeansthatthe SAShas to turn to events
such as fundraisingandcharityinorderto raise the moneyneededtoprinttheirleafletsand
posters,aswell asfundthe work theydofor the environment.