Staff Contacts: Sara Boyd

Students participate in all facets of survey research.

ILGARD provides a full range of survey research assistance, including instrument design, implementation, data input and analysis. Survey projects have included public opinion surveys, measurement of economic and legislative impact, needs assessment and consumer satisfaction (see article).

A project for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources evaluated the recreational use and economic impact of state-owned wildlife areas. ILGARD conducted an extensive study focused on quantifying the primary and secondary economic impacts that Ohio wildlife areas have on the surrounding regions. All aspects of the survey were managed by ILGARD, including the development of the survey instrument, distribution of the survey, data input and analysis. Over 15,000 surveys were distributed in 23 wildfife areas throughout the state.      

ILGARD can conduct web surveys, telephone, mail and pencil and paper surveys.   In collaboration with the client or community, ILGARD staff can help determine what type of survey best meets the needs of the project and design the survey tool.  

Here is a menu of ILGARD survey research services:

Survey/Questionnaire Design
Surveys are used for a variety of purposes including:

• To evaluate the success of a project or program
• To measure public awareness of community and county issues, programs or major events
• To identify the health, education, and human services needs of various segments of the population
• To gather data related to a particular research project

Data Collection, Analysis, and Report Preparation

• Guidance regarding survey population issues and sample selection
• Data compilation and analysis including statistical analysis
• Map preparation to graphically demonstrate key demographic and other research findings
• Preparation of reports and presentations of survey findings

Types of Surveys

• Web-Surveys
  ILGARD uses Persius Survey SolutionsT installed on a secure server.   Web-surveys are especially appropriate when surveying a population group who regularly access e-mail and the Internet.
Services include:
• Designing the survey as an attractive web-page
• Ensure receipt of survey by intended audience only
• Ensure security of survey database
• Analyze data from survey
• Telephone Surveys
  In association with the Ohio University Scripps Survey Research Center phone surveys are conducted using a 21 station CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing) laboratory.
• Trained interviewers
• Strict attention to respondent qualifications
• Ability to conduct project over longitudinal research
• Mail and Pen and Paper Surveys
• Ability to create high quality attractive documents of any length or style
• Mail merge, pre-paid return address envelopes
• Survey responses scan directly into a database for analysis.