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Office of Research Services
A Division of the Office of the Vice President for Research
 
 

Director
Dr. James J. Bason
jbason@uga.edu
706-542-9290

Survey Research Center
300 Stegeman Coliseum
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602
 
 
 
 
 

Statement of Capabilities

The Survey Research Center is a multidisciplinary research center at the University of Georgia.  It was established in 1981 to serve the research, teaching and service needs of the University, the state, and the larger community. Since 1984 the Center has been a constituent of the University's Institute for Behavioral Research, a coalition of behavioral scientists from various disciplines of the University who meet to work collectively on research problems. In July 2004, the Survey Research Center joined the Office of Research Services, but maintains a close relationship with the Institute for Behavioral Research.

From its inception SRC has been involved in research conducted for a variety of clients and covering a wide range of topics. This work has given the Center a widespread reputation for designing and conducting research of the highest possible quality. Additionally, it has made SRC a versatile organization, having expertise and experience in projects of varying size and scope.

Organizational Capabilities

SRC maintains a permanent staff of seven and may employ up to 50 temporary employees at any given time. The Center's permanent staff includes professionals who have experience in the following technical areas:

  • Execution of telephone, mail, web-based, and personal interview surveys.
  • Questionnaire construction and survey measurement
  • Sampling theory and practice
  • Interviewing techniques
  • Research design
  • Statistical analysis of survey data
  • Training and instruction in survey methodology
  • Consultation on all aspects of survey research

The Survey Research Center has considerable experience conducting telephone and mail surveys covering a wide range of topics. Major projects completed by the Center in recent months include:

  • The eighteenth wave of a comprehensive observational survey of safety belt use for the Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety (n = 25,000)
  • A random digit dial telephone survey of 1,200 adult Georgians conducted in 2003 on access to health care and prevention conducted under a grant from Health Care Georgia Foundation, followed by a second survey of 1,200 adult Georgians on Childhood Overweight and Obesity in August of 2004.
  • A random digit dial telephone survey of 2,000 adult Georgians conducted in 2003 for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office on Consumer Advocacy about Investing Behavior of Georgia residents, and a Follow-up Study of 800 Georgia Investors in 2004.
  • A multi-mode (web, mail, and telephone) survey of surgeons on surgical work hours, funded as a joint University of Georgia/Medical College of Georgia grant from the University of Georgia Biomedical Institute (2003 – 2004).
  • Georgia’s annual Hunter Harvest Survey, a survey of hunters conducted for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (n =2,500); 1995 - 2004
  • Two semi-annual statewide random digit dial telephone polls of public opinion in Georgia.
  • A mixed mode (mail and telephone) study of the attitudes of Florida residents towards wildfires in fire and non-fire areas in the state of Florida (n = 2,000); (Funded through Colorado State University by the U.S. Forest Service)

The Center also has experience conducting a variety of studies in biomedical and health related areas.

  • A NIH funded telephone survey of 2,000 African-American adults in 2003 and a follow-up telephone survey of 2,000 African-American adults in 2004 on kidney disease and hypertension, along with a 2004 web and fax based study of 800 Primary Care Providers connected to the kidney and diabetes telephone effort (National Kidney Disease Education Program), conducted for Equals 3 Communications in Bethesda, Maryland.
  • An RDD survey of 1,700 adults in Georgia regarding genetics and the impact of specific messages about genetics, and a subsequent follow-up of these people one month after the initial telephone interview (2004).
  • A Worksite Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Smoking study conducted by telephone with 1,100 randomly selected Georgia businesses conducted for the Georgia Division on Public Health
  • A statewide Childhood Asthma Prevalence Study conducted for the Georgia Division of Public Health and the American Lung Association (n = 1500). This study provided the first prevalence data of asthma among children under the age of 18 in the State of Georgia, and was conducted during Spring 2000. A replication (n = 2100) of the study was conducted in 2003.
  • A mail survey of 1,200 elementary school teachers (1999) and 1,200 middle school teachers (2001) in Georgia concerning Asthma among Georgia school children. The study examined knowledge and attitudes of teachers towards Asthma among elementary school children in Georgia public schools.
  • A Pediatric Emergency Room Asthma Study conducted in 2000 for the American Lung Association (n = 60). Parents who had brought a child to an emergency room for treatment of Asthma or related breathing problems completed a telephone survey to examine reasons for ER visits to treat asthma, asthma management plans, and understanding of the causes of asthma and breathing problems.
  • A series of three RDD telephone surveys of youth (n = 500) and adults (n = 500) conducted for the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to examine knowledge of recently implemented drunk driving legislation (n = 1,000 in 2000, 1999, and 1998). The study was designed to examine the extent to which public relations campaigns about the new laws were known, and the extent to which individuals knew penalties for drunk driving.
  • A series of 16 focus groups and personal interviews examining attitudes towards obesity among children conducted for the Georgia Division of Public Health, Nutrition Division (2002)
  • A telephone survey of recipients of WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) benefits to determine nutrition habits of children served by the WIC program. The study, conducted for the Georgia Department of Nutrition, was conducted Spring 1998.

Additionally, the Center has considerable experience in recruiting research subjects for a variety of specific research studies, including recruitment of hard to reach populations. Examples of recruitment projects completed by the Center include:

  • Recruitment of Caregiver/Care Recipient Dyads in Pittsburg, PA., Tuscaloosa, AL, and Athens, GA. (n = 500) for a Caregiver Burden study (2003 – 2004).
  • A recruitment of married couples for a mail research study on relationships between married spouses (Self-Esteem and Maintenance Study, n = 300)
  • A statewide telephone recruitment and survey of women age 60 and older on Cervical Cancer (Georgia Women’s Cervical Cancer Study, n = 600)
  • Recruitment of individuals aged 30 – 60 for participation in a study examining the link between genetics and aging. Respondents were required to travel to an intake center, complete questionnaires, and have blood drawn.

Further, the Center has considerable experience in recruitment and administration of focus group research. Recent examples of focus group research conducted include 3 focus groups of insurance consumers conducted in Atlanta, Georgia, Thomasville, Georgia, and Phoenix, Arizona for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a Focus Group of Property Management Executives in Gwinnett County, Georgia conducted for the Georgia Apartment Industry Education Foundation, and 3 focus groups of Athens area residents on medical journalism conducted for the Cox Foundation and the Cox Center for International Mass Communication Training and Research at the University of Georgia. Contact persons as references for specific research studies can be provided to upon request.

The Survey Research Center has access to the full range of University of Georgia support facilities and services, including an IBM 3090 Mainframe Computer, electronic data reading capabilities, the latest technology for computer assisted telephone interviewing, scannable survey creation and scoring, web-based survey capability, word processing, graphics production, and photographic reproduction. Subject-matter experts in all disciplines are available as consultants to meet specialized needs outside the scope of staff proficiency.

Survey Research Center Organization

The key personnel at SRC responsible for the design and implementation of research are the director, research coordinator, research technician, and computer services specialist. The director has primary responsibility for administration of the Center, including budget planning and management, client contact, and primary responsibility for designing and overseeing all research projects undertaken by the Center. The research coordinator and research technician's responsibilities include hiring of temporary personnel, directly overseeing data collection and data analysis, and assisting with report generation.

Dr. James J. Bason, Associate Research Scientist and Director of the Survey Research Center, has broad experience in all types of survey research. He has primary responsibility for overseeing data collection and analysis for projects and supervising SRC's staff of research assistants, project managers, and supervisors. Dr. Bason has directly overseen over 300 separate research studies in his 15 years with the Center. Dr. Bason completed a Ph.D. degree in Political Science at the University of Georgia with specializations in survey research applications, political and electoral behavior. Dr. Bason holds BA and MA degrees in Political Science from Appalachian State University.

Ms. Mary Ann Mauney, Assistant Director, has a broad background in many types of survey research, and has extensive experience in Focus Group facilitation. Ms. Mauney holds an MA degree in Sociology from the University of Georgia and a BA degree in Political Science from the University of South Carolina at Spartanburg. Ms. Mauney comes to SRC from the Center for Democratic Renewal in Atlanta, Georgia where she served as Research Director. Ms. Mauney is responsible for day to day administration of the SRC data collection facility, including training and supervising SRC’s staff of telephone interviewers. Ms. Mauney is also responsible for Focus Group facilitation efforts at the Center.

Mr. Steven Quinlan, Information Analyst, joined the Center after graduation from the University of Georgia with a B.S. degree in Management and Information Systems. Mr. Quinlan’s responsibilities include programming Computer Assisted interviews, both telephone and web, and day-to-day management of Center computer needs. Mr. Quinlan has a strong background in many types of programming, and is proficient in web design.

Additionally, the Center has 3 full-time support personnel to handle administrative and budgeting functions.

Finally, the Survey Research Center also benefits from the interdisciplinary organization of the Institute for Behavioral Research, which crosses departmental and college boundaries. The research done at the Institute is on the cutting edge of the social and behavioral sciences nationally and internationally.