Since 2022, More in Common has been working with StoryCorps’ One Small Step program to examine how Americans react to conversations between two Americans with different beliefs and worldviews. StoryCorps One Small Step Program sets up and records conversations between two Americans of different political beliefs and backgrounds to have a conversation not about politics but about their shared humanity.
To date, StoryCorps has recorded more than 3,000 of these conversations and developed some into short videos. More in Common then tests these videos with focus groups made up of Americans from our “Hidden Tribes” segments to test specifically how these conversations land with harder-to-reach groups of Americans, who often feel hopeless about the country’s deep divisions. What we found is after hearing a series of these conversations, the number of Americans’ who expressed willingness to engage with those on the “other side” went from 42 percent (before listening to the conversations) to 62 percent (after listening to the conversations)—an almost 50 percent increase.
More in Common and StoryCorps continue to work together as the One Small Step project scales up in the months and years to come, and as StoryCorps works with media partners and platforms to reach local and national audiences at scale.
the increase inAmericans’ willingness to engage with those on the “other side” after listening to a StoryCorps conversation.
I have been following More in Common’s research for many years. To actually have More in Common evaluate and study our work was a dream come true- it has informed every aspect of the creation and execution of One Small Step.
