Research

Publications from staff, webinar presentations, or talks given

New study indicates poor health — not aging itself — decreases older Americans’ likelihood of voting

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University of Wisconsin–Madison sociology professor Michal Engelman led the study, published Oct. 15 in the Journals of Gerontology: Series B, along with sociology graduate student Won-tak Joo, sociology Professor Jason Fletcher and political science Professor Barry Burden.

The study uses data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which Engelman directs. The WLS has followed more than 10,000 Wisconsin high school graduates since 1957, surveying them about once a decade. In addition to the original participants, the survey has interviewed their siblings and spouses and includes detailed data on wealth, physical and mental health, and a range of social activities.

Longitudinal Study of Generations

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UWSC is proud to once again administer the Longitudinal Study of Generations. In this respected multigenerational study, researchers explore the ways family culture is transmitted across generations, and the effects of family life on opinions, beliefs, well-being, friendships, and values. Questions can be directed to Senior Project Director, Vicki Lein. 

Let’s Agree to Disagree! New Publication by UWSC Researchers Recommends Against Using Agree-Disagree Questions

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Although they are ubiquitous, a recent publication by UWSC researchers and collaborators calls to question the use of agree-disagree (AD) questions to measure attitudes and opinions. In “Towards a reconsideration of the use of use of agree-disagree questions in measuring subjective evaluations,” UWSC researchers provide a review and synthesis of research on the measurement properties and potential limitations of AD questions.

New Study by UWSC Researchers and Collaborators Explores Differences in How Black and White Respondents Answer Questions about Trust and Medical Researchers

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Check out the newly published “Understanding Survey Methodology: Sociological Theory and Applications” for results from a new UWSC study. The study examines how Black and White respondents answer questions about trust in medical researchers and participation in medical research.

New Research from UWSC Client Jenny Higgins and UW CORE on Abortion Health Care Access

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Findings from a UW CORE study on how doctors view access to abortion will appear in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health. With the help of the University of Wisconsin Survey Center (UWSC), the team sent 1,357 surveys to doctors in all specialties and received 913 responses between February and May 2019.

UWSC Senior Project Ken Croes to Co-Present “Conducting Focus Group Research or Stakeholder Activities in the New Virtual World”

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UWSC Senior Project Director Ken Croes and Gay Thomas, Director of Stakeholder Engagement with the Wisconsin Network for Research Support, will co-present about online research practices at an upcoming event of the University of Wisconsin Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Community-Academic Partnership Education Program.

Interested in surveying physicians? New UWSC research highlights the effectiveness of $5 and $10 sequential incentive combinations

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While collecting high quality data from physicians is critical, response rates for physician surveys are frequently low. A proven method for increasing response in mail surveys is to provide a small, prepaid monetary incentive in the initial mailing. More recently, UWSC researchers have begun experimenting with adding a second cash incentive in a follow-up contact in order to increase participation among more reluctant respondents.

UWSC Proud to Contribute to Edited Volume on “Interviewer Effects from a Total Survey Error Perspective”

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Distinguished Scientist Jennifer Dykema is a co-editor of the recently published “Interviewer Effects from a Total Survey Error Perspective.” Written for managers of survey interviewers, survey methodologists, and students interested in the survey data collection process, the book uses the Total Survey Error framework to examine optimal approaches to survey interviewing, presenting state-of-the-art methodological research on all stages of the survey process involving interviewers. Three of the chapters on survey interviewing include contributions by UWSC staff.