{"id":22330,"date":"2024-11-27T11:49:28","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T19:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/?p=22330"},"modified":"2024-11-27T11:49:30","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T19:49:30","slug":"labarometer-fifth-anniversary-kyla-thomas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/labarometer-fifth-anniversary-kyla-thomas\/","title":{"rendered":"How best to improve L.A. County residents\u2019 lives? Ask them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n    \n                                \n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-hero \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-hero\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n<div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--image\">\n\n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    \n              \n      <img\n                            data-src=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/11\/kylathomas_profile_top-768x432.png\"\n          data-srcset=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/11\/kylathomas_profile_top-1920x1080.png 1920w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/11\/kylathomas_profile_top-1280x720.png 1280w,https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2024\/11\/kylathomas_profile_top-768x432.png 768w\"          data-sizes=\"(min-width:1200px) 75vw, (min-width:768px) 83vw, 100vw\"          class=\"lazyload\"\n        \n                  alt=\"A woman with curly hair, wearing glasses and a navy cardigan, stands at a light rail station, looking confidently at the camera.\"\n        \n        \n                                      \/>\n\n    \n    \n  \n  \n\n<\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"image-caption\">\n          \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  Sociologist Kyla Thomas established the LABarometer survey to assess \u2014 and improve \u2014 life for Los Angeles County residents. (Photo: Olga Burymska.)\n\n\n<\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  \n  <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\n          <nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\" class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n        <ul>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\">News<\/a><\/li>\n                      <li><a href=\"\/news\/stories\/\/?category=social-impact\">Social Impact<\/a><\/li>\n                  <\/ul>\n      <\/nav>\n    \n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--page-title\">\n\n    \n  <h1>How best to improve L.A. County residents\u2019 lives? Ask them<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n          <div class=\"subtitle\">\n            \n<div class=\"f--field f--description\">\n\n    \n  As USC Dornsife\u2019s LABarometer marks its fifth anniversary, survey director Kyla Thomas notes the broad insights and significant benefits the survey offers Angelenos.\n\n\n<\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n           <strong class=\"author-field\"><span >By<\/span><a href=\"mailto:communication@dornsife.usc.edu\">Daniel P. Smith<\/a><\/strong>\n    \n          <span class=\"post-date-field\">November 27, 2024<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--social-share \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--social-share\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"content-wrapper\">\n    <span class=\"a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_32 addtoany_list\" style=\"line-height: 32px;\">\n      <span class=\"title\">\n        Share\n      <\/span>\n                        <a class=\"a2a_button_copy_link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/#copy_link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"Link\">\n            <span class=\"a2a_svg a2a_s__default a2a_s_copy_link\">\n              <svg height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" width=\"19\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m7.43475275 9.52380952-2.17490843 2.26076008c-1.08745421 1.058837-1.68841575 2.518315-1.68841575 4.0350275 0 1.5167124.60096154 2.9475732 1.68841575 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xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m8.14285714 9.42857143c-.17142857 0-.34285714 0-.51428571.08571428l7.28571427 6.34285719c.3428572.2571428.6857143.2571428.9428572 0l7.2857142-6.34285719c-.0857142-.08571428-.2571428-.08571428-.4285714-.08571428zm-1.28571428 1.11428567v.1714286 8.5714286c0 .6857143.6 1.2857143 1.28571428 1.2857143h14.57142856c.6857143 0 1.2857143-.6 1.2857143-1.2857143v-8.5714286c0-.0857143 0-.0857143 0-.1714286l-7.2 6.3428572c-.7714286.6857143-1.8857143.6857143-2.6571429 0z\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" transform=\"translate(-6 -9)\"\/><\/svg>\n            <\/span>\n            <span class=\"a2a_label visually-hidden\">Email<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n                  <\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Over the last five years, <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/kyla-thomas\/\">Kyla Thomas<\/a> has gotten to know Los Angeles County and its residents like few others.<\/p>\n<p>As director of <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cesr\/labarometer\/\">LABarometer<\/a>, Thomas, a sociologist at the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cesr\/\">Center for Economic and Social Research<\/a> (CESR) based at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, leads an effort to capture the pulse of the county\u2019s residents twice each year on issues affecting their daily lives, from rent costs and neighborhood conditions to transportation and health care.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a deep dive into how Angelenos feel about important issues and their living conditions,\u201d Thomas says of LABarometer, a biannual survey of some 2,000 adults from households across L.A. County. Panelists comprise a representative sample of the county\u2019s population, making the survey a valuable tool to inform policy, research and action.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re tracking and analyzing social and economic conditions throughout the county, then sharing those findings with the public, policymakers, practitioners and other researchers, says Thomas. \u201cOur ultimate goal is to help L.A. become better, stronger and healthier.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Paul Simon, former chief science officer of L.A. County\u2019s Department of Public Health, says LABarometer proved its value almost immediately. He worked with Thomas shortly after the survey launched to improve the department\u2019s efforts to aid Angelenos during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe survey is an immensely important source of information on the social and economic conditions in the county,\u201d he said, adding that it provides information critical to improving population health and reducing health inequities.<\/p>\n<h2>LABarometer inspired by Understanding America Study<\/h2>\n<p>LABarometer was inspired by CESR\u2019s signature project: the <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/time-sensitive-research-at-warp-speed\/\">Understanding America Study<\/a> (UAS), established in 2014. Highly prized by researchers nationwide, <a href=\"https:\/\/uasdata.usc.edu\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\">UAS<\/a> gathers and makes available data related to housing, financial literacy, health, diet and more from a nationally representative sample of nearly 15,000 American households.<\/p>\n<p>When CESR leadership pitched the idea of developing a survey panel focused exclusively on life in L.A., Thomas volunteered to take the lead with support from USC Dornsife colleagues <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/profile\/marco-angrisani\/\">Marco Angrisani<\/a>, associate professor (research) of economics; <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cesr\/profile\/ying-liu\/\">Ying Liu<\/a>, research scientist at CESR; and <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/our-leadership\/kate-weber\/\">Kate Weber<\/a>, executive director of <a href=\"https:\/\/publicexchange.usc.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\">Public Exchange<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/cesr\/profile\/evan-sandlin\/\">Evan Sandlin<\/a>, research manager at CESR, later joined the effort, as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe never envisioned LABarometer as a countywide carbon copy of UAS,\u201d Thomas said. The team wanted something focused on the issues most relevant and important to L.A. So, Thomas and her colleagues met with more than 50 community organizations to determine which topics to focus on. Those conversations shaped the foundation of LABarometer and the two reports it releases each year.<\/p>\n<p>The annual spring report focuses on <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/metro-unsafe-say-those-no-longer-riding-post-pandemic\/\">mobility and sustainability<\/a>, hitting on topics such as transportation access and costs as well as climate-related topics like natural disaster preparedness, heat exposure and sustainability-related behaviors.<\/p>\n<p>Months later, the fall report turns its attention to <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/labarometer-homelessness-and-high-rents-weigh-heavily-on-angelenos\/\">livability and affordability<\/a>. Questions cover <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/labarometer-living-expenses-on-the-rise\/\">neighborhood quality of life<\/a>, including access to important goods, services and amenities, as well as the costs of key resources, such as housing, health care, food and education.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe survey results related to food access and security have been central to our efforts to build support for investments in the food system,\u201d said Alison Frazzini, policy director for L.A. County\u2019s Chief Sustainability Office. \u201cIt has enabled us to leverage COVID response and recovery funding to \u2026 make the local food economy more resilient.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Since each biannual survey engages many of the same residents, LABarometer is a valuable tool for measuring trends and shifts in residents\u2019 attitudes and circumstances. Earlier this year, Thomas found that even though public transportation use has been rising since 2021, it\u2019s still significantly below pre-pandemic levels.\u00a0 And Thomas made national news in 2021 for reporting that 10% of Angelenos planned to leave the county in the coming year \u2014 a 40% increase from 2019.<\/p>\n<h2>LABarometer data drives thoughtful action for Los Angeles<\/h2>\n<p>As Thomas and CESR leaders hoped, LABarometer has become a resource to promote thoughtful action by policymakers and community leaders.<\/p>\n<p>In the early days of the pandemic, for instance, the survey provided critical data on L.A. County residents\u2019 knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to COVID, according to Simon. \u201cWe were able to track trends over time to assess the impact of our efforts to promote the protective behaviors needed to stem the spread of the virus prior to the availability of vaccines. As vaccines became available, the survey provided invaluable information that helped us address residents\u2019 concerns about those,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>During that same period, the county\u2019s chief sustainability office (CSO) worked with Thomas to develop a survey module to assess the pandemic\u2019s impact on food access. The resulting data helped the CSO determine how to distribute funding and resources. More recently, the CSO cited LABarometer data in its <a href=\"https:\/\/cso.lacounty.gov\/the-plan\/cso-current-initiatives\/climate-vulnerability-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\">Climate Vulnerability Assessment<\/a>, which is guiding a range of climate adaptation, emergency preparedness and community resiliency efforts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI got into sociology because of my passion for positive change, so it\u2019s gratifying to see the LABarometer inform action and have a real impact on people\u2019s lives,\u201d says Thomas, whose research focuses on discrimination and inequality.<\/p>\n<p>While the LABarometer\u2019s four core themes of livability, affordability, mobility and sustainability have remained consistent from the beginning, the research team has incorporated new areas of focus based on the needs of community partners. At the request of the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, for instance, the panel added questions related to public transportation to help the agency better understand the sentiments of residents and prioritize improvements.<\/p>\n<h2>Evolving LABarometer<\/h2>\n<p>Thomas notes that it\u2019s been striking to see \u201chow much stays the same\u201d from year to year with LABarometer. She also sees an opportunity to gain more data and greater insight into life in Los Angeles \u2014 both its benefits and its challenges. She recently assessed data from the fall 2024 report covering affordability and livability and found an uptick in the number of people moving out of their homes due to rampant rent increases.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe want to help policy leaders understand why people are moving out, so they can consider appropriate interventions,\u201d Thomas says.<\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, Thomas aims to expand the LABarometer panel\u2019s size and its network of collaborators. \u201cThe bigger the panel, the more we can say about specific communities within L.A.,\u201d she said. \u201cOur dream is a panel of 5,000.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And cultivating relationships with more government agencies, nonprofits, community organizations and researchers will deepen the insights the survey can bring to the public domain, particularly as the region braces for the 2028 Olympics.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo best serve our community, we\u2019ve got to evolve the survey as the county changes,\u201d she says. \u201cThat means identifying important new issues and tracking Angelenos attitudes and opinions on them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n  \n        \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--article-related-stories \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--article-related-stories\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n  <div class=\"inner-wrapper\">\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Related Article\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n    \n                  <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/tree-spacing-study-shows-path-to-cooler-neighborhoods\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >How changing L.A.\u2019s tree rules could cool more neighborhoods<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/usc-dornsife-achievements-2024\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >Celebrating a year of achievements for USC Dornsife<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n              <article>\n              \n<div class=\"f--field f--cta-title\">\n\n    \n  <h3>\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/news\/stories\/teaching-controversy-and-civics-focus-of-record-grant\/\" \n                        class=\"\" \n      >How to handle controversial topics in the classroom? New research is evaluating one approach<\/a>\n      <\/h3>\n\n\n<\/div>\n        <\/article>\n            <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As USC Dornsife\u2019s LABarometer marks its fifth anniversary, survey director Kyla Thomas notes the broad insights and significant benefits the survey offers Angelenos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":22332,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[70,1202,63],"class_list":["post-22330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-impact","tag-academy-in-the-public-square","tag-center-for-econmic-and-social-research","tag-community-engagement"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How best to improve L.A. County residents\u2019 lives? 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