Collect data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults without running a full survey.

Whether you're piloting a new idea, preparing a grant proposal, or adding to an existing project, SurveyHarvest provides a simple, affordable way to gather high-quality survey data.

Why choose SurveyHarvest?
  • Low cost. Subsidization from CSSI allows question price to be a fraction of cost of other omnibus surveys.
  • Flexible participation. Submit as few as 3 questions or up to 35.
  • Minimal burden. CSSI staff handle IRB compliance, programming, and deployment.
  • High-quality data. Survey data collected from high-quality panel constructed by reputable vendor.

How SurveyHarvest Works

SurveyHarvest provides a streamlined way to collect survey data by sharing space with other UI researchers on a nationally fielded omnibus survey. Participation is structured around three scheduled survey cycles each year.

1. Submit Your Questions

Researchers submit survey questions through the SurveyHarvest submission portal. CSSI reviews all submissions and may recommend revisions to ensure clarity, quality, and alignment with best practices.

2. Join a Scheduled Survey Cycle

Accepted questions are included in the next available SurveyHarvest cycle:

CycleSubmission DeadlineExpected Field Month*
FallOctober 16December
SpringFebruary 19April
SummerJune 18August

*Field timing is contingent on client responsiveness, number of surveys, and IRB review.

Questions are pooled across UI researchers into survey instruments of up to 35 questions.

3. CSSI Prepares and Deploys the Survey

CSSI manages all aspects of survey preparation, including:

  • Human subjects (IRB) compliance
  • Survey programming in Qualtrics
  • Coordination with the survey panel provider

Surveys are fielded shortly after each cycle deadline to a nationally representative sample of 1,000 U.S. adults. Survey data will be collected through Verasight. Additional details regarding Verasight’s methodology are available here. 

Once deployed, surveys are in the field approximately two weeks.

4. Receive Your Data

Following survey completion, CSSI provides researchers with datasets that include:

  • Responses to their submitted questions
  • Standard demographic variables
  • Data weights
  • Methods report

Data will be provided in the researcher's preferred data format from the following list: Excel/csv, Stata, or SPSS.

What You Can Do With SurveyHarvest

SurveyHarvest supports a range of common survey research approaches, from descriptive analyses to causal inference and scale development. 

Estimate Population Patterns

Examine how attitudes, behaviors, or experiences vary across demographic groups in a nationally representative sample

Conduct Experiments

Incorporate experimental designs (e.g., vignettes, message framing) to evaluate how different inputs influence responses

Test Hypotheses and Relationships

Evaluate associations between variables to support theory-driven research questions

Develop and Validate Measures

Pilot and refine survey items or scales before using them in larger studies

Yield Reports

Hawkeye Poll conducts national public opinion poll through SurveyHarvest

In November 2025, the University of Iowa Department of Political Science used SurveyHarvest to conduct the Hawkeye Poll. The collaboration enabled faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students to contribute public opinion questions within a shared survey fielded to approximately 1,000 U.S. adults. CSSI's SurveyHarvest provided the infrastructure for survey programming, data collection, and quality assurance, helping streamline the development and deployment of the poll. Read the collection of results on the Hawkeye Poll webpage.

Research by CSSI researcher affiliates Brown and An shows more personal than professional use of AI tools

CSSI researcher affiliates Ken Brown and Brian An recently purchased 10 questions through CSSI's SurveyHarvest initiative. Results from the survey of 1,000 U.S. adults yielded surprising results as to how people are using artificial intelligence tools in their personal and professional lives, prompting a drive to dive deeper. Read about the findings from Iowa Capital Dispatch.

Pricing

SurveyHarvest offers an affordable way to collect high-quality survey data by sharing space on a nationally fielded survey. Researchers may purchase individual survey questions and participate at a level that fits their project needs.


A minimum of three survey question units are required for SurveyHarvest participation.

A researcher may purchase up to 35 survey question units.

3-5 Question Units6-10 Question Units11-35 Question Units
$275 per question$250 per question$225 per question

What is a question unit?

Question typeNumber of Question Units
Yes/no question1
Multiple choice question with up to 7 response categories1
Grid or matrix question with multiple items using same response categories0.33 per item
Open-ended text question (can be answered with 1-3 words)1
Standard open-ended question (can be answered with a short phrase or sentence)2
Short paragraph open-ended question (can be answered with at maximum 250 character response)3
Question with pictures or video segments (15-second)1
Question with diagram2

Note(s): (1) Questions must be compatible with the Qualtrics platform. (2) Attention checks are not an allowable question type.

What's Included

All SurveyHarvest pricing includes:

  • Human subjects (IRB) compliance support
  • Survey programming and testing
  • Deployment to a nationally representative sample of 1,000 U.S. adults
  • Answers to submitted survey questions
  • Standard demographic variables, including gender, age, education, Hispanic ethnicity, race, income, political identification, and most recent presidential general election vote
  • Data weights calculated for the following adult population benchmarks, using an iterative raking method: age, race/Hispanic ethnicity, education, household income, metropolitan/non-metropolitan status, census region, partisanship, and 2020 presidential general election vote
  • Data file (Excel/csv, Stata, or SPSS) including question responses, demographic variables, and data weights.
  • Codebook and methods reports.

READY TO PURCHASE SURVEY QUESTIONS?