Research Methodology
A systematic, multi-phase approach to collecting, verifying, and analyzing public records on unclaimed remains across Florida.
Overview
The Unclaimed Lives Research Initiative employs a mixed-methods research design that combines quantitative analysis of public records with qualitative assessment of county-level disposition practices. Our methodology is designed to be transparent, replicable, and scalable — allowing other researchers to apply the same framework to additional states or jurisdictions.
Data collection is conducted exclusively through lawful public records requests under Florida's Public Records Law (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes). We do not access any private, sealed, or restricted records. All data is processed through a rigorous cleaning and verification pipeline before analysis.
Data Pipeline
Public Records Request
Formal requests submitted to all 67 Florida counties under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.
Data Collection
Systematic gathering of medical examiner records, indigent burial data, and probate filings.
Cleaning & Verification
Standardization of records, deduplication, and cross-referencing across multiple data sources.
Dataset Compilation
Integration of cleaned records into a unified, structured analytical dataset.
Analysis
Statistical analysis, demographic profiling, geographic mapping, and policy evaluation.
Analytical Framework
Our analytical framework integrates descriptive statistics, geographic information systems (GIS) mapping, and multivariate regression analysis to examine the relationships between demographic characteristics, socioeconomic indicators, and unclaimed death outcomes. We employ both cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches where data availability permits.
County-level analysis allows us to identify geographic patterns and regional variations, while individual-level data (where available and appropriately anonymized) enables demographic profiling and the identification of risk factors associated with unclaimed status.
Replicability
A key goal of this initiative is to develop a methodological framework that can be replicated in other states. Our data collection instruments, coding schemas, and analytical protocols will be made available upon completion of the initial research phase to support similar investigations nationwide.