This is the mission of the FWI. Our very reason for being is to conduct research that leads to action. We are unusual among organizations—both academic and nonprofit organizations—in four ways:

1. 1. Whereas other organizations tend to be focused on one or a few specific topics, we take a broad, life-cycle approach, covering topics from birth through aging.
   2. Whereas other organization tend to focus on individuals or on the context in which individuals live, we take an ecological approach, looking at individuals in terms of their work, their families, and their communities.
   3. Whereas other organizations tend to be either focused on conducting research or advocating for changes, we are a research organization that works to ensure that the rigorous findings resulting from our studies can or do lead to action.
   4. Whereas other organizations that focus on action tend to stop there, we additionally work to ensure that our action projects are change experiments—they are evaluated by research and then improved.