Study Planning and Implementation

Survey Design and Data Collection Tools

Data Collection Tools and Database Design and Management ensure Accurate Research Results Investigators come to us with a wide range of survey needs. While some investigators know exactly what they require, others want us to provide recommendations for the best approach to survey design and data collection.

By helping you think through the data you need, we can then determine the best way to structure your surveys. Our experience in crafting questions can help increase the likelihood that questions will not be skipped, that they will be understood and easy to manage in data analysis.

We are experienced in using audience demographics to impact research results. Our methods of survey design and data collection also makes data entry more effective. By designing with data entry in mind, we can make the process more efficient and less prone to errors.

Subject and Response Rate Tracking

In many studies, subjects and responses need to be tracked over a period of weeks or months. We are able to help you organize your study to make tracking easier and more reliable.

Our techniques not only track characteristics such as differences between groups, but also help to ensure that subjects receive follow-ups as needed. We also use special methods, such as newsletters, to stay in touch with subjects throughout your study, decreasing the incidence of drop outs.

The Center for Research Support can provide you with regular feedback on the achievement of specific targets, such as enrollments of a particular gender or minority. Throughout your study, we also ensure that your data are collected in a consistent way.

Preparation of IRB Materials

For many investigators, preparation of IRB materials is a source of anxiety. With our 10 years of experience, we are able to make this process easier and less stressful.

We can consult with you to provide a clearer understanding of IRB deliverables. We can also draft applications, consent forms and amendments, and aid in continuing reviews, handling many of the IRB-related tasks that distract you from your primary research interests.

By engaging us to assist you with IRB matters, we can make the process more efficient while helping assure that you avoid missteps.

Subject Incentives and Payments

Many research studies use incentives and payments to encourage and reward participants. We are experts at making this process more effective and efficient while assuring appropriate institutional and government policies are followed.

The Center for Research Support can provide cash or gift card payments to subjects, in person or through the mail. More importantly, we can track all of the steps involved and take care of financial reporting requirements, too.

We are also experienced in the use of other kinds of incentives, such as raffles. With our help, you can use these important methods to improve response rates without adding to your workload.

Liaison with Service-Providers and Stakeholders

Perhaps you are a researcher who needs to work with a community organization. Or maybe you are part of a community agency, but you are not sure where to find the research expertise you need.

If your study involves other community agencies, we act as liaisons between the University of Rochester and various community organizations, helping people on both sides to work together more effectively. Additional assistance for other community support is available through the Center for Community Health.

We have helped school districts, health organizations and other agencies find the research expertise they needed. We have also helped many university researchers connect with the appropriate agencies for their studies.

The Center for Research Support can aid you in initial contact, or on an ongoing basis throughout your study.

Focus Group Organization and Facilitation

The facilitation of focus groups is a highly specialized skill. By engaging us to help with your focus groups, you can ensure more useable results as well as a more streamlined process.

The Center for Research Support provides a complete array of focus group services:

Design of focus group studies
Development of questions
Development of interview guides
Recruitment of participants
Management of incentives for participants
Providing food for participants
Moderation of focus groups
Preparation of transcripts
Analysis of results
Preparation of executive summary

By relying on our expertise and years of experience, you can ensure that you get the most reliable results from focus groups while eliminating many of the challenges.