| Indiana University Center for Survey Research (CSR) |
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| 1165 E Third Street, Morrison 120 Bloomington, IN 47405 csr.indiana.edu Contact: csr@indiana.edu |
University applied research center | |
| Role(s) | Since the early 1980’s, the Center for Survey Research (CSR) has partnered with researchers to plan for, gather, and analyze data that advance knowledge and humankind. The CSR has conducted thousands of quantitative and qualitative research projects, using surveys, interviews, focus groups, and a wide range of other methods, including collection of medical specimens and environmental samples. Our partners include collaborators from universities, governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. |
| Mission | • To partner with leading researchers in developing, implementing, and analyzing state-of-the-art qualitative and quantitative research • To teach and inspire by sharing cutting-edge knowledge of research methods • To collaborate with senior organizational leadership in gathering and analyzing data that will inform sound data-driven decision making • To be a leader in methodological and management innovation and research among academic research organizations |
| History | 1982: Established by two Indiana University faculty members with university support, primarily to assist in conducting telephone surveys Late 1980s-1990s: Expanded to include mail and online survey data collection capabilities and the Center grew to 20 full-time and 75 part-time staff 1995: Began conducting annual survey of 3,000 mental health services recipients for the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction 1990s-2000s: Established many new partnerships, including collaborations with nursing faculty conducting randomized trials and the Knee Replacement Patient Outcome Research Team 2010s: Built a wide range of new research collaborations, including data collection and consulting partnerships with health departments, hospital systems, and physician researchers 2016: Obtained Indiana CTSI core status. CTSI cores are facilities that provide CTSI research investigators with equipment, training, or technical services (like research design, data collection, and analysis support) across multiple departments. Core status is obtained through a rigorous approval process and is reviewed annually by CTSI. There are funding programs specific to working with a CTSI core (more information available here: indianactsi.org/researchers/services-tools/translational research-development/all-ctsi funding/) 2018: Expanded to provide statewide field data collection and medical specimen collection capabilities; completed the first interview for the Precision Health Initiative Person to Person Health Interview Study 2020: Expanded to provide environmental sample collection capabilities (dust, tap water, air quality monitor, etc.) |
| Org | Highly experienced team of project managers, technologists, methodologists, operations staff, and graduate assistants Leadership: • Center Director: Ashley Clark • Director, Research Project Management Services: Erica Moore • Director, Research Data Management Services: Jamie Roberts • Director, Research Technologies: Kevin Tharp • Director, R&D and Research Laboratory, & Senior Methodologist: Lilian Yahng • Director, Research Field Operations: Karen Tucker |
| Board | The CSR has an advisory committee comprised of faculty and campus leadership that provides input on strategic initiatives, assists in efforts to expand the CSR’s portfolio, and oversees general operations. |
| Finance | Supported primarily by recharge for services provided to collaborators. Support is also provided by the Office of the Vice President for Research. |
| Data Sources | The CSR can facilitate access to data that were collected using surveys, medical specimens, and environmental samples (as allowed by collaborators’ data sharing policies). These data come from a wide range of health and medical research studies examining topics from social determinants of health to community health needs to professional training of medical professionals. Samples include statewide representative samples of adults, samples of health professionals, and experimental research study participants. |
| Data Access | Data are the property of the CSR’s collaborators, but access can be facilitated by CSR staff (as allowed by collaborators’ data sharing policies). |
| Tech Capabilities | • Support for developing research designs and proposals (using methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.) • Instrument design and testing, including cognitive interviewing • Database and data collection instrument programming, including REDCap and Qualtrics • Sampling and subject recruitment • Quantitative data collection (in person, online, mail, and telephone) and qualitative data collection (focus groups, semi-structured interviews, observations, etc.) • Standardized collection of medical specimens (including saliva, blood, and urine), anthropometric measurements, and environmental samples (including dust and tap water) • Forms scanning, data entry, and coding • Data processing and analysis, including weighting |
| Projects | The CSR conducts 40-50+ projects of diverse size, complexity, and substantive focus each year. Examples include: Indiana University Precision Health Initiative Grand Challenge – Person to Person Health Interview Study: As part of a multi-million dollar collaborative effort of numerous internal and external stakeholders and world-class faculty with the goal of achieving biomedical breakthroughs in cancer, childhood, chronic, and neurodegenerative diseases, CSR conducted 2,600+ in-person interviews with a representative sample of Indiana households to gauge health and to assess the impact of social networks, as well as collect biomarker samples. Comparing Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening in Low-Income and Minority Patients: This Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)-funded randomized clinical trial study continued longstanding collaborations with IU School of Nursing researchers on intervention strategies and special populations for cancer screenings, utilizing multi-wave standardized telephone interviews to assess efficacy of methods. Indiana Community Health Needs Study: Partnering with the IU School of Public Health and local health departments, this health needs assessment surveyed six counties in Indiana: Clark, Dubois, Lawrence, Jackson, Madison, and Monroe. Randomly-sampled household residences were invited to participate in a mailed survey seeking to understand the health needs of communities from the people who live in them. |
| Future Focus | • Continue to develop and expand capabilities to contribute to cutting-edge health sciences research • Build new partnerships with researchers in health and medicine • Develop methodological innovations to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of research • Increase awareness of best practices in conducting high-quality research |
| Talent Development | • Offer free consulting hours to share best practices in research design, data collection, and analysis • Provide specialized trainings and workshops for businesses, university departments, and faculty research teams • Offer seminars and workshops in collaboration with the SSRC • Offer campus courses and guest lectures • Provide hands-on experience in the design, implementation, and analysis of research studies to undergraduate and graduate students employed at the CSR • Provide graduate students with guidance/experience on how to implement population-based research as a partner in the Sociological Research Practicum |
| Data Sharing Agreements | Data are the property of the CSR’s collaborators, but access can be facilitated by CSR staff (as allowed by collaborators’ data sharing policies). |
| Programs/ Publications | More information about our projects, publications, and resources can be found at csr.indiana.edu. |