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SSRS Centers for Innovation

State Research (SCISR)

Uniting researchers who specialize in state-level data collection to harness their collective expertise into a shared body of knowledge and best practices that can benefit the field as a whole.

SSRS State-level Research

The SSRS Center for Innovation in State Research (SCISR) provides the research industry and state institutions with intellectual activity around the best practices in state and sub-state research across the United States.

SCISR shares substantive and methodological expertise SSRS has culled through years of experience conducting research in states, counties, and cities.

SSRS State Research in the News

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Relevant Work From Partner Organizations

A Repository of State-focused Research from Across the Industry

SHADAC State Alternatives for Health Data Continuity

The SHADAC State Alternatives for Health Data Continuity Project was launched in response to growing uncertainty about whether the federal government will continue to collect and publish key data sources that researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders rely on to support state-level health policy development, monitoring, and research.

Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this project aims to explore two central questions:

  1. What gaps might emerge if the federal government reduces its investment in the collection and dissemination of survey-based health data?
  2. What are the feasible options for filling those potential state-level data gaps?

SHADAC Research Method Support

SHADAC creates and disseminates trusted methodological resources to support health policy research using survey and other data sources. These resources include publications comparing data sources for research use, sample size analyses, and methodological and instructional resources for collecting and analyzing data about health insurance coverage and access to care.

SHADAC also provides tailored technical assistance to support specific research and methods related questions.

Learn more about SHADAC >>

The Marquette Law School Poll

Since 2012 the Marquette Law School Poll has conducted state polling of Wisconsin elections and policy issues. In addition, the MULawPoll organization conducts analysis of election returns, census and other government data to address issues of redistricting, housing, population change and policing, among other topics. MULawPoll researchers provide analysis to a host of organizations in Wisconsin concerning these topics and organize forums for the discussion of issues facing the state.
Information about the poll and our work can be found here and all poll results, toplines, crosstabs and methodology can be found here. Interactive toplines and a searchable inventory of all questions asked is available here and crosstabs here. Our compilation of election results, down to the precinct level, for the state since 2000 is available here.

SHADAC State Alternatives for Health Data Continuity

The SHADAC State Alternatives for Health Data Continuity Project was launched in response to growing uncertainty about whether the federal government will continue to collect and publish key data sources that researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders rely on to support state-level health policy development, monitoring, and research.

Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this project aims to explore two central questions:

  1. What gaps might emerge if the federal government reduces its investment in the collection and dissemination of survey-based health data?
  2. What are the feasible options for filling those potential state-level data gaps?

SHADAC Research Method Support

SHADAC creates and disseminates trusted methodological resources to support health policy research using survey and other data sources. These resources include publications comparing data sources for research use, sample size analyses, and methodological and instructional resources for collecting and analyzing data about health insurance coverage and access to care.

SHADAC also provides tailored technical assistance to support specific research and methods related questions.

Learn more about SHADAC >>

The Marquette Law School Poll

Since 2012 the Marquette Law School Poll has conducted state polling of Wisconsin elections and policy issues. In addition, the MULawPoll organization conducts analysis of election returns, census and other government data to address issues of redistricting, housing, population change and policing, among other topics. MULawPoll researchers provide analysis to a host of organizations in Wisconsin concerning these topics and organize forums for the discussion of issues facing the state.
Information about the poll and our work can be found here and all poll results, toplines, crosstabs and methodology can be found here. Interactive toplines and a searchable inventory of all questions asked is available here and crosstabs here. Our compilation of election results, down to the precinct level, for the state since 2000 is available here.

Meet the SCISR Team

SCISR Director - Susan Sherr, Ph.D.

Dr. Sherr has directed most of the large-scale health insurance and community health studies carried out by SSRS in the past thirteen years, spanning six states and several cities. Her other work involves a variety of program evaluation studies, public opinion surveys regarding religion and politics, the Annual Survey of Refugees, and studies of Jewish demography, among many other topics. Specifically, Susan has served as the Director of SSRS’s work on the CHIS, the MHIS since 2008, the MNHAS since 2009, the Oklahoma Health Care Insurance and Access Survey, the Health of Houston Survey, and most recently the OHIS, among others.

Meet Susan

SCISR Associate Director - Kristen Conrad

Kristen has extensive experience working at the intersection of social science and commercial research, designing and delivering research and strategic insights to her clients, often using advanced multivariate analytic techniques. Of particular note, other highlights of Kristen’s career include overseeing all polling efforts for the Marquette Law School Poll (Wisconsin polling), managing academic research data collection for University of Wisconsin, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Southern California, as well as providing robust data collection and actionable insights for commercial clients such as Coca-Cola, Educational Testing Service, AT&T, and the American Cancer Society.

Meet Kristen
Arina Goyle PhD methods

SCISR Methodologist - Arina Goyle, Ph.D.

Arina is a research methodologist with expertise in survey design and implementation for large-scale studies. She has served as the methodologist for major state health surveys, including CHIS, MHIS, MNHAS, OHIS, and RI HIS, and has also held dual roles as research methodologist and research director for the Annual Survey of Refugees. Her work focuses on improving representation of traditionally underrepresented populations in survey research. Arina has presented on this topic at multiple AAPOR conferences and published in Survey Practice on the effectiveness of prepaid cell samples in reaching hard-to-reach demographics.

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At SSRS, we understand the complexity and importance of state research.

We conduct the largest statewide health survey in the country, the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), among other state health and policy-driven surveys. We also conduct many state level public opinion and election surveys for CNN and other non-partisan polling organizations.

Learn More About SSRS State Research

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SSRS State Research Insights

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SSRS understands state research.

Our knowledgeable and experienced team has a comprehensive toolbox for conducting complex representative samples of states. Let's talk about how our approach can work for your next project.

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