Sociological Problem Solving in Applied Qualitative Research

• In Event: 2147 - Sociological Problem-Solving across Sectors (e.g., Business, Academia, Government)

Abstract

Westat is one of the leading contract research organizations in the United States, serving hundreds of Federal and state agencies, research institutions, and foundations. Westat is well known for its survey research, evaluation of health and social programs, statistical designs, analysis, and reporting. Westat does research in the areas of social science, health, clinical trials, evaluation, statistical analysis, communications and social marketing. This work covers a variety of topic areas, including tobacco research, substance abuse, education, disaster research, epidemiology, nutrition, domestic violence, homelessness, criminology, health communications, immigration, military studies and survey methodology.
In survey research and evaluation, a core problem is ensuring the questions being asked are meaningful to the people being studied, and that those respondents understand the questions as intended. In this presentation, we will discuss how we use a sociological perspective in qualitative research at Westat. In particular, we examine how cognitive interviewing to pretest research instruments can be understood as a sociological effort that requires understanding the social context and background a respondent brings to a study in order to improve the accuracy and relevancy of its outcome.

Authors

• Karen Stein, Westat

• Kristie Taylor, Westat