A Brief History of the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center
In 1968, WSU President Dr, Glenn Terrell, first spoke with Dr. James F. Short, Jr., Professor of Sociology and Dean of the Graduate School about the creation of a social science research center at WSU. With $25,000 of funding from the Associated Students of WSU the Social Research Center (SRC) was started in 1970 with office space and a Public Opinion Laboratory located in Cleveland Hall. The first project came immediately and with urgency. The university administration building was briefly occupied with students protesting racism on campus and although not clearly related, an old wooden football stadium had been burned down. One response to student requests was a 3-day Racism Workshop, with all other classes suspended during the workshop, thus the first survey of the SRC was born. The Social Research Center used its Public Opinion Laboratory to conduct telephone interviews of students and faculty at WSU about the outcomes of the Racism Workshop.
In 1975 the SRC moved to Wilson Hall and in 1984 the Board of Regents broadened the scope of the SRC and changed the name to the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (SESRC). World renowned Rural Sociologist and Survey Methodologist Dr. Don Dillman became director in 1985 and significantly expanded the scope of survey activities (SESRC Director 1985-1995).
In 1996, Psychologist and Survey Research Expert, Dr. John Tarnai who was formerly assistant director, and had developed the center's first computer assisted telephone interview (CATI) system became director. The SESRC has offices on the main WSU campus in Wilson-Short Hall, off campus at the WSU Research Park, and in downtown Olympia, Washington. The SESRC annually completes 60-75 projects, totaling $4-$5 million dollars; employs 150-300 students, presents workshops and regularly publishes the results of research conducted at the SESRC. The SESRC is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, and participates in the annual International Field Directors and Technologies conference.
Data Collection Services
The SESRC speciallizes in collecting data. Click on each mode below to find out what we do best.
Telephone Surveys
Mail Surveys
Internet Surveys
Focus Groups
Mixed Mode Surveys