Research Driven Change
Nonprofits do vital on-the-ground work every day. Service providers see firsthand the needs of the communities they serve, what challenges come up most often, and what solutions seem to make a difference.
But there’s a difference between knowing through experience and knowing through evidence. That’s where we come in. Together, we can turn lived experience into rigorous, actionable knowledge — and help your nonprofit do more of what works.
Meet the Founder:
Abi Ocobock
For over a decade, Abi has made her home in the “ivory tower”—as an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame. She has spent those years immersed in the rigorous world of academia. Before that, she led large-scale research projects for non-profits and government agencies. These experiences taught her the power of deep, focused understanding and the art of turning complex human stories and data into meaningful insights. Her research has been published by top academic presses (like the University of Chicago Press) and covered by popular media (including The Atlantic and Slate Magazine).
Abi founded Fox and Hedgehog Research because she believes her experience managing, collecting, and analyzing deep human stories can bridge the gap between academic insights and real-world needs, driving more immediate, impactful social change for the communities where she lives. Her mission is to connect service provision and research through meaningful collaboration and partnership.
Abi’s high-standards and research expertise are reflected in her ongoing service to prestigious organizations like the National Science Foundation, Sociologists for Women in Society, the American Sociological Association, and the Journal of Marriage and Family.
Degrees
What’s in a name?
Two modes of thinking combined for impact.
The concept of “fox and hedgehog” captures two styles of thinking. At Fox and Hedgehog, we believe bridging the two approaches achieves more effective social change.
Foxes are curious and flexible—they look at problems from lots of angles. Hedgehogs, on the other hand, focus deeply on one big idea—they see the world through a single guiding principle.
Researchers tend to think like foxes – we explore complex issues from multiple perspectives, uncovering patterns and connections. Service providers tend to think like hedgehogs – they are driven by a central vision and organizing principle, and focusing on the big-picture allows them to pursue goals with passion and determination.
At Fox and Hedgehog Research, our mission is to bridge the research – service gap and create more impactful social change.
“The Fox knows many things, but the Hedgehog knows one big thing.”
GREEK POET ARCHILOCHUS
An Ode to British Roots
Foxes and hedgehogs are also quintessentially British animals. So is Abi, the founder of Fox and Hedgehog Research. Combined, the animals also happen to have the ring of a good English country pub: The “Hare and Hounds,” the “Dog and Duck” … you get the idea. Just like at any good pub, Fox and Hedgehog brings people together, and offers a space for building community and change.
