The Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI) is launching two new tools that expand and enhance survey research opportunities for University of Iowa investigators.

The improvements, which include a new subscription to a high-quality survey panel and a competitive research incubation program that covers all survey costs, stem from faculty requests for additional survey support. The new resources are intended to strengthen the University of Iowa’s capacity for research and creative discovery, building upon existing areas of excellence in the social sciences.

Nationally-Representative Survey Panel

CSSI recently purchased a subscription from Verasight, an external entity that collects high-quality survey panel data.

Through this subscription, University of Iowa researchers will have the opportunity to secure low-cost credits from CSSI to distribute short or full-length surveys to Verasight’s panel of verified respondents.

Surveys may be distributed to either nationally representative samples or oversamples of African American or Hispanic respondents.

Researchers requiring custom survey samples for their specific research interests and needs are encouraged to reach out to discuss additional opportunities.

Surveying the Social World Research Incubation Initiative

CSSI is also excited to announce a call for applications for CSSI’s Surveying the Social World research incubation initiative.

Selected researchers will have the opportunity to submit up to 35 survey questions to a panel sample of 1000 respondents. As part of the award, CSSI will fully subsidize the survey costs.

The CSSI research services team will also provide selected researchers with end-to-end survey support, including survey administration, programming, testing, deployment, and IRB compliance.

Researchers can then use the collected data to bolster their research projects and endeavors, leading to empirical publications or external funding proposals.

“Well-developed scientific surveys are a powerful means through which to quantify dimensions of population health, values, civic engagement, preferences, consumer behaviors among many other topics of high social significance,” says CSSI associate director, Ethan Rogers. “I am excited our CSSI team is helping researchers access and implement high-quality survey data for their work.”

Applicants for SSW are encouraged to apply by Monday, March 3rd, 2025. Visit our website for additional details about the program and application process.

For more information on CSSI’s comprehensive survey research services, click here.