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RESEARCH FRAMEWORK · 2025–26

A4G Research
Framework

A one-year research agenda integrating three domains to produce actionable knowledge on AI, work, and society — with community primacy at its core.

April 2025 – March 2026Domain Integration ModelSolopreneurship Focus
Executive Summary

Year 1 Establishes A4G Across Three Integrated Domains

Year 1 prioritises actionable research and practical pathways for workers and entrepreneurs navigating AI transformation. Rather than siloed disciplines, the framework integrates domains that are experienced simultaneously in people's lives.

Domain 1+4 Integration

Economics + Mental Well-Being unified into integrated displacement research.

Domain 2 Reconceptualized

Focus shifted to AI-enabled solopreneurship and tech-supported livelihoods.

Domain 3 Maintained

Governance of AI focused on accountability, inclusive participation, and worker rights.

Research Domains

Three Integrated Domains

Each domain is distinct but interconnected — designed to be studied as a whole.

Domain 1+4

Economic Displacement & Mental Well-Being

Rationale

Job loss and psychological distress are experienced simultaneously — not sequentially. Studying them in isolation creates incomplete understanding and inadequate interventions.

Key Deliverables

  • Integrated displacement & well-being research paper
  • Lumina program efficacy study
  • 12-month cohort synthesis across all participants
Economic DisplacementMental HealthIntegrated Research
Domain 2

AI-Enabled Solopreneurship

Rationale

Pathway facilitation using tools like Claude Code and Cursor enables a new class of micro-entrepreneurs who can build, validate, and sustain digital services independently.

Train 100 people, launch 30 businesses

Key Deliverables

  • AI solopreneurship adoption case studies
  • Sustainability model for AI-enabled livelihoods
  • Peer community framework and toolkit
  • AI tool accessibility research
SolopreneurshipAI ToolsLivelihoods
Domain 3

Governance of Artificial Intelligence

Rationale

AI governance demands inclusive frameworks that centre worker rights and community voices — not just technical standards created by institutions with limited lived experience.

Key Deliverables

  • AI governance gap analysis
  • Impact assessment toolkit for communities
  • Policy briefs for policymakers & civil society
  • Corporate AI accountability scorecard
PolicyAlgorithmic AccountabilityWorker Rights
Research Standards

Six Core Principles

These standards govern how we ask questions, conduct studies, and share findings.

01

Community Primacy

Research questions arise from community needs — not institutional convenience.

02

Integration Over Siloing

We study interconnected phenomena holistically, resisting the urge to fragment lived experience.

03

Action Orientation

Every finding is assessed for actionable implications for practice and policy.

04

Methodological Rigor + Flexibility

Mixed methods are the default. We match method to question, not to convention.

05

Transparency & Replicability

Analysis and instruments are openly documented so others can build on — and scrutinise — our work.

06

Ethical Excellence

Dignity and representation are non-negotiable core principles, not afterthoughts.

Open Research

Publication Strategy

Every finding is published in three formats. Public within 6 months. Co-authored with community researchers and Sankle Fellows.

Academic

Peer-reviewed journal submissions

Policy

Briefs designed for decision-makers

Public

Blog posts and media-ready summaries

Co-Authorship — Community co-researchers and Sankle Fellows are credited on all publications.

Get Involved in This Research

Shape Year 1 Outcomes

Whether you're a researcher, policymaker, or community practitioner — there's a role for you in the A4G Research Network.