Services 

Each SSRC client has unique information needs and different resources available to address them. Whether you're an experienced researcher, or new to research; whether you plan to conduct a web, telephone or face-to­ face survey, an evaluation to document project outcomes or applied research to support planning or program design, the SSRC can help. We'll work with you to select the data collection modalities best suited to your research question and your budget. Moreover, we understand that target populations have different levels of access to technology, literacy levels, and reluctance to cooperate with particular data collection procedures. Thus, we recommend combining various data collection strategies (e.g. a web-based survey with telephone follow-up to convert non-respondents) to optimize the response rate. In addition to employing quantitative techniques, we advocate the use of qualitative methods in applied research, and conduct focused group discussions, observations and semi-structured interviews.

Multi-Modal Data Collection

The SSRC works in demographically diverse communities. We find the literal translation of English instrumentation to be insufficient, and we emphasize the development of linguistically and culturally appropriate research instruments and methods. Our university setting allows us to access the linguistic and cultural expertise of members of many racial/ethnic and national groups. We regularly conduct research in the Latino and Vietnamese communities, and have conducted surveys in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Khmer and other languages.

Web-Based Surveys: The SSRC can produce customized web-based survey applications, available to invited respondents or open to all.

Telephone Survey Research: The SSRC operates a 24-station Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) survey research lab. CATI software facilitates call management to optimize response rates, and simplifies navigation through branching sequences in complex questionnaires. Telephone monitoring of interviews further ensures the quality of data, and we encourage our clients to use our remote monitoring capability.

Mailed or Self Administered Questionnaires: We conduct mailed and group-proctored surveys. 

Neighborhood Surveys: A small, neighborhood survey is an excellent method of obtaining detailed information about a particular area too small for targeted telephone administration. The SSRC has assisted a variety of community-based organizations to collect data useful for advocacy purposes. 

Other Research Services 

Technical Assistance with Proposal Preparation:   We frequently collaborate to develop scopes of work and cost estimates in the context of proposal preparation.

Assistance with Research Processes:   Already funded? We can assist you to plan and implement all phases of social research including the development of survey and evaluation instrumentation, sampling and research design, data collection, statistical analysis, and quantitative and qualitative technical report writing.

Evaluation Research: The SSRC offers evaluation training oriented to practitioners in a variety of fields. Let us consult with you regarding the development and/ or implementation of your evaluation plan.