New Pullias Report: Skateboarding, Schools, and Society

USC’s Pullias Center for Higher Education, in conjunction with Annenberg School for Communication and the Tony Hawk Foundation, recently published a white paper as part of their Beyond the Board: Skateboarding, Schools, and Society study. The white paper provides context for the larger study that entails interviews with over 100 skateboarders in East Los Angeles, Gallup, Detroit, Houston, and the Boston area and a national survey of skateboarders. The first administration of the survey attracted 3,000 respondents from across the US.

The second round of the survey launched on June 1 and will close on July 31, 2019. The survey aims to learn from youth who are passionate about skateboarding – including skateboarders who are integrated into thriving skate communities, and those who might feel disenfranchised from the skate community or the community at large.

The survey is being disseminated through social media channels and relies on grassroots support. Neftalie Williams, an expert in skate diplomacy and co-principal investigator on the study, explains that the goal is to hear from as many skaters as possible: “We’re not just interested in hearing from pros. We want to learn from youth from diverse backgrounds and with diverse skate experiences. We’re hoping young skateboarders will share the survey link with their friends.” In order to hold survey takers’ attention, the survey includes photographs of skaters throughout the survey.

Dr. Zoë Corwin, the study’s principal investigator, stresses the unique opportunity the study has provided to her research team, “to have the support of the Tony Hawk Foundation has meant that we can easily gain access into the skate community. To be able capture the perspectives of skaters across the country – and through innovative tactics such as Zoom conferences, Instagram communications, and Youtbue – has been a fantastic research experience. We’re learning about so much more than skateboarding.”