Survey Methodology Program

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Since its founding, the Survey Research Center (SRC) at the Institute for Social Research (ISR) has been a principal source of innovation in the methodology of survey research. Innovations have been made in sample design, estimation of sampling variance from complex surveys, questionnaire design, interviewing behavior, computer-assisted measurement technologies, imputation for missing data, and the analysis of survey data. The Survey Methodology Program (SMP) was established within SRC in 1992 with the explicit aim of creating a multidisciplinary team to focus on research methodology.  Thus, the SMP draws upon a range of disciplines including social psychology, cognitive psychology, sociology, statistics, and computer science.

The Survey Methodology Program is staffed by eleven full-time research faculty and research scientists, all of whom are internationally renowned survey statisticians or methodologists (or both) and teach courses for the PSM.  In addition, several other researchers at the University are affiliated with the Program.  Their interests span (but are not limited to) sampling, statistical analysis, interviewing methodology, total survey error, and collaborating with Survey Research Operations staff to develop innovative methods. SMP is structured to combine knowledge from relevant academic disciplines to advance both theory and practice. The mission of the SMP can thus be summarized as (1) conducting research on survey methods, (2) training students in survey methodology, and (3) collaborating with SRO staff to develop innovative methods.

All PSM faculty play an active role in the various research projects that the SMP is conducting at any point in time. For more information about the research activities in which the PSDS faculty are currently involved, please visit the MPSDS faculty page.

Any questions about potential research collaboration with SMP faculty should be directed to Brady West.