Data
Collection
The SESRC
collects reliable data using state-of-the-art techniques tailored
to specific research needs.
Telephone
Interviews are conducted from the Public Opinion Laboratory
(POL) using micro-computers to enable immediate data entry
into a computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI)
system.
Mail
Questionnaires are sent to respondents and received
by a centralized mail processing unit. The Tailored
Design Method (TDM) is used during design and implementation
of mail survey studies. All mail is processed under the
supervision of a trained supervisor who oversees the coding,
mailing, and receipt of questionnaires.
Internet
surveys are conducted using state of the art web survey
techniques and current methodologies developed by Don A.
Dillman.
Face-to-Face
Interviews are conducted by trained interviewers under
the supervision of trained professionals.
Other
Methods (i.e., Focus
Groups, Content Analysis). The SESRC has the capacity
to locate and train personnel in many different methods
of collection social and economic data. One example is the
training of personnel to use coding formats designed to
obtain specific pieces of information from the text of library
or historical documents. Focus groups and other data collection
techniques are frequently used at the SESRC, where appropriate.
