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Current Projects

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The Social Science Research Center often carries out several projects of varying topics and methodologies, simultaneously. These include telephone, online, in person, and mail-based surveys as well as evaluation projects. At the current time, there are several projects ongoing. Below you will find details on each, providing some background and verifying the legitimacy of these projects.

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California Air Resources Board | Gas Can Emissions Study

The SSRC is conducting a survey on a sample of households, businesses, and lawn/garden care technicians that use gas cans within the State of California. The purpose of this survey is to collect information to estimate the population and types of gas cans currently in use statewide. As part of this project, the SSRC is also collecting a sample of used gas cans as well. The gas cans will undergo emissions testing at the Center for Environmental Research & Technology at UC Riverside (CE-CERT). The data obtained from the survey at SSRC and emissions at CE-CERT will be used to estimate emissions from all gas cans in California.

California Air Resources Board | Small Off-Road Engine (SORE) Survey

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is interested in producing estimates of Small Off-Road Engine (SORE) Equipment operating in the state and their contribution to carbon emissions. CARB has contracted with the Social Science Research Center to conduct an online survey of three populations: residents, commercial businesses, and lawn and garden technicians in California. The purpose of the survey is to obtain information on lawn, garden and other outdoor power equipment used by individuals sampled from these populations. Data collected through this survey will be used to produce a reliable estimate of the SORE equipment currently operating in the state and the resulting contribution to statewide emissions. Additionally, it will help inform and support potential future emission-reduction programs.

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CalOptima Health | Member and Population Health Needs Assessment (MPHNA)

CalOptima Health is conducting a comprehensive Member and Population Health Needs Assessment (MPHNA) to assess the whole-person health needs and preferences of CalOptima Health members. To support this effort, in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago, the Social Science Research Center is conducting a survey of a sample of CalOptima Health members to learn more about what health services they need and prefer. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, Farsi, and Russian. The data will be combined with other sources of data to help CalOptima Health develop programs and strategic approaches that best serve all Orange County CalOptima Health members.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) | Passage to the Future

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSUF created the Passage to the Future Program to help students navigate career opportunities and develop skills relevant to their majors. The program begins with HSS 200, a course where students explore various career paths and enhance critical skills, followed by guidance on networking and securing internships. While the overall Passage to the Future Program is still being refined, the HSS 200 course has been finalized, providing a foundation for evaluation. To assess the effectiveness of HSS 200, the college has partnered with the Social Science Research Center (SSRC). The evaluation will focus on assessing outcomes associated with HSS 200 through surveys administered before HSS 200, six months post-completion, and one year after graduation, with a comparison group for analysis. This evaluation will help inform the Dean’s Office on the program’s effectiveness and guide future improvements.

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NOC Public Safety Collaborative | Evaluation

The California Board of State and Community Corrections (CBSCC) Program awarded the North Orange County Collaborative a total of $20,000,000 over a four-year period beginning June 30, 2017. The funding was to be used for the broad purpose of violence prevention, intervention, and suppression activities. More specifically, funds could be used on a variety of services, programs, and activities designed to address youth violence prevention/intervention in K-12 schools, promote successful reentry of offenders in the community, and address homeless outreach and intervention efforts. Therefore, the Advisory and Coordinating Board was established to oversee the Collaborative and allocate the funds for each year of the grant. To incorporate a framework of accountability into the Collaborative’s undertakings, the Advisory and Coordinating Board contracted the Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) to conduct an evaluation of its efforts.

NOC Public Safety Collaborative | Resource Map

The North Orange County Public Safety Collaborative has contracted the Social Science Research Center to develop an interactive map containing all services available to individuals experiencing homelessness in North Orange County. This map will be a secured resource for service providers throughout Orange County to increase collaboration and ease service administration.

Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness (OIEP) | Alumni Post-Graduation Success Survey

The Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness (OIEP) at Cal State Fullerton has partnered with the Social Science Research Center to administer the Post-Graduation Success Survey—an online survey of all CSUF alumni funded by Growing Inland Achievement. The purpose of this survey is to capture alumni perceptions of the impact of their CSUF experiences. This effort is a follow-up to post-graduation success definition work conducted by the University in the spring of 2025, and it is a significant component that supports its strategic plan and the CSU student success framework.