Survey Research

How do trends in education and employment, changes in health care, and the consequences of welfare reform affect people’s lives? Can a research project achieve the focus needed to answer important social policy questions? How can the relevant facts be filtered from the ambiguities and ad hoc opinions? Can we measure the factors that will allow us to assess programs and policies with accuracy? A carefully constructed survey helps clarify the answers to these questions.

Mathematica's survey staff are at the forefront of providing specialized data collection to answer clients' research questions. Click on the links below to find out more about some of our large-scale projects: 

• The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program surveys help answer questions about families' experiences and well-being. This work includes a common instrument used to measure the concept of "disadvantaged" consistently across states.
• The Hunger in America surveys are the largest and most comprehensive examination to date of Americans who seek emergency food relief and the network that serves them.
• Fragile Families addresses nonmarital childbearing, welfare reform, and the role of fathers in low-income families.
• The Building Strong Families program looks at whether well-designed and sensitive interventions can help couples fulfill their aspirations for a healthy, stable, and committed marriage.
• The Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT) project helps track the employment, educational, and demographic characteristics of scientists and engineers in the U.S. labor force.
• The first national survey of SSI children and families in two decades provides updated information to the Social Security Administration for policymaking and program planning.
• The Community Tracking Study, our largest survey to date, traces changes in the health care system in 60 communities across the nation. Click here to read about our other health surveys of the general population, plans, professionals, programs, and employees.
• Our National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (NSSATS) helps improve information and reporting on substance abuse treatment and facilities in the U.S.
• The Kauffman Firm Survey aims to learn more about the challenges involved in owning and operating a new business.
  
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