What's New - 2008 Archive What's New - 2007 Archive What's New - 2006 Archive
06/11/09
Westat will conduct the National Epidemiologic Surveys on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III) for the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse.
NESARC-III is a national, in-person survey that will examine alcohol-related attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors among approximately 50,000 adults. The survey instrument will also measure a wide variety of mental health-related conditions associated with alcohol use and abuse. In addition to respondents’ self-reports, the NESARC-III will attempt to collect DNA samples (saliva) from all respondents.
The contract also includes two substudies:
Westat will prepare final deliverables, including clean, weighted data files; a methods report; and a restricted-use data file.
For more information:
Contact Westat
05/22/09
Westat researchers gave paper presentations and poster sessions and conducted a data workshop at this year's Society for Research in Child Development [*] (SRCD) Biennial Meeting held in Denver, Colorado, last month.
SRCD was established in 1933 by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science. The Society is a multidisciplinary, not-for-profit professional association with a membership of approximately 5,500 researchers, practitioners, and human development professionals from more than 50 countries. The Society promotes multidisciplinary research in the field of human development, fosters the exchange of information among scientists and other professionals of various disciplines, and encourages applications of research findings.
The list of papers by Westat staff and co-authors follows (Westat staff names in bold).
Jude Cassidy, Susan S. Woodhouse, Brandi S. Stupica, Laura Jernigan Sherman, Yair Ziv, and Carl Lejuez. Infant Irritability and Maternal Adult Attachment as Moderators of a Home Visiting Intervention in a Randomized Controlled Study.
Camilla Heid. Head Start Impact Study: Subgroup Findings.
Kwang Kim and Alberto Sorongon. Using Data From the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES).
Kwang Kim. Characteristics of the Families, Learning Environments, and Communities of Dual Language Learning Children in Head Start.
Spencer Li and Alberto G. Sorongon. Head Start Services, Parents' Social Capital, and Parent Involvement.
Alberto G. Sorongon. Risk Factors on the Cognitive Outcomes of DLL Children: Does Head Start Play a Protective Role?
Kathleen E. Wallner-Allen, Priscilla Rouse Carver, and Denise Pinkowitz. Relations Between Executive Functioning in 1st Grade and Academic and Social Outcomes in 3rd and 4th Grade.
Yair Ziv and Carol Andreassen. Risk Factors on the Socioemotional Outcomes of DLL Children: Does Head Start Play a Protective Role?
Yair Ziv and Alberto G. Sorongon. Attachment-Related Social Information Processing in Preschool.
For more information:
Contact Westat
05/06/09
A contingent of Westat staff will be attending the 2009 conference of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) [*] in Hollywood, Florida, on May 14-17. The theme of this year's conference is Public Choices in Changing Times. At a special plenary session, panelists will debate the role of traditional survey research in a world of electronic measurement and changing information needs.
As every year, Westat researchers and their contributions in survey research science are a strong presence at the conference. Westat staff will be teaching short courses; discussing new books; and presenting papers, briefs, and poster presentations, as well as serving as session discussants.
On Wednesday, May 13, Westat Vice President, Director of the Survey Methods Unit, and Associate Director J. Michael Brick, PhD, will co-teach a short course, Practical Tools for Nonresponse Bias Studies. Dr. Brick has served on AAPOR’s Executive Council as Communications Chair for the past year, a year in which AAPOR has established a presence on the social networking sites Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
On Friday, May 15, from 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m., Westat Vice President and Associate Director Brad Edwards will be available at the Meet-the-Author session in the Great Hall. He is a co-author of Survey Methods in Multinational, Multiregional, and Multicultural Contexts, which is due out this year.
Westat staff are associated with a number of paper presentations covering a variety of topics: cell phone surveys, cognitive interviewing, surveys with interpreters, survey pretesting, issues in noncoverage and nonresponse, health surveys, mode effects, and other methodological issues. A list of papers and presentations authored or co-authored by Westat staff (names in bold) follows.
Pat Dean Brick and Johnny Blair. Current Practices in Cognitive Interviewing.
David Cantor and Brett McBride. Are You Feeling Worthless? An Investigation of Mode Effects for Measures of Emotional Well-Being.
Sarah Dipko and Krista Freedman. Cell Phone Reverse Directories – Promise or Peril?
Janet Harkness, Ana Villar, Yelena Kruse, Laura Branden, Brad Edwards, Clarissa Steele, and Ying Wang. Using Interpreters in Telephone Surveys.
Wendy Hicks, Martha Stapleton Kudela, Douglas Williams, and Jessica Graber. Pretesting and Methods Development Within a Longitudinal, Multi-Mode Survey.
Ryan A. Hubbard. Dialing for Dollars: The Effect of Mode on Income and Asset Item Nonresponse.
Martha Stapleton Kudela, Kerry Levin, Joshua Hantman, Jocelyn Newsome, Salma Shariff-Marco, Nancy Breen, and Gordon Willis. Do Emotional Reactions During Cognitive Testing Carry Over to the Field?
Martha Stapleton Kudela, Jonathan Wivagg, Conrad Choiniere, and Amy Lando. Making the Most of a Traditional Landline RDD Survey in the 21st Century: A Case Study.
Kerry Levin, Martha Stapleton Kudela, Jocelyn Newsome, Joshua Hantman, Salma Shariff-Marco, Nancy Breen, and Gordon Willis. Assessing Questions About Self-Reported Racial/Ethnic Discrimination in a Health Survey.
Brett McBride, Karen Tourangeau, Wendy Hicks, Brad Edwards, Laura Branden, Lauren Harris-Kojetin, and Abigail Moss. Using Paradata in an Establishment Survey to Guide Interviewer Training and Interviewer Behavior.
For more information:
Contact Westat
05/01/09
Westat’s Susan M. Viet, PhD, has been named a 2009 Fellow of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) [*]. AIHA members are recognized for their outstanding work in occupational and environmental health and safety. Dr. Viet is one of 26 AIHA members who earned the honor this year.
Members chosen to be Fellows have been nominated by colleagues in the profession for their significant contributions to the practice of industrial hygiene or related disciplines. The Fellow classification is limited to no more than 5 percent of the AIHA membership.
Dr. Viet is a senior industrial hygienist, a certified industrial hygienist (CIH), and certified environmental trainer (CET) with 30 years of experience in the environmental, health, safety, and epidemiology fields. She is currently the environmental team leader for the National Children’s Study.
"The industrial hygiene profession has provided so many opportunities for me," commented Dr. Viet regarding the honor. "It’s nice to know that the industrial hygiene community thinks I have contributed to the profession in some significant way."
For more information:
Contact Westat
04/27/09
Sid J. Schneider, PhD, of Westat, and Tom Lewis, MD, and Maria Rosa Watson, DDS, PhD, both of Primary Care Coalition of Montgomery County, will speak at the fourth in a series of seminars for the 2009 Contemporary Social Issues Seminar Series sponsored by the Rockville Institute and the Universities at Shady Grove.
This month’s seminar is titled Health Information Technology: A Prescription for Today. The presentation will examine the benefits and concerns of the growing adoption of health information technology. It will be held on Tuesday, May 5, at 4:30 p.m. The seminar, which is free and open to the public, is held in the Camille Kendall Academic Center [*], Building III, Room 3241, 9636 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, Maryland, 20850.
Dr. Schneider’s part of the presentation will familiarize the audience with the basic concepts of health IT. He will outline the benefits that might be realized and the drawbacks that may emerge as health IT is more universally adopted. He will cover some of the important findings of focus group research on the opinions of patients toward health IT. The audience will gain a perspective on the forces that are driving and that are holding back the adoption and use of health IT in the United States.
The second part of the presentation will focus on the methods in place to address transitions of care for low-income, uninsured, safety net patients (Dr. Lewis). It will also cover the recommendations for the state regarding Health Information Exchange from the perspective of community users using data gathered as part of the Montgomery County Health Information Exchange project (Dr. Watson).
04/23/09
The Health Information Resource Center (HIRC), a national clearinghouse for consumer health information programs and materials, has awarded two of Westat’s clients with World Wide Web Health Awards [*]. The Web Health Awards recognize the best Web-based health-related content for consumers and professionals. There were nearly 1,000 entries in the 2008 competition from hundreds of organizations.
Westat developed, designed, and maintains the following web sites winners.
Web site: It’s a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing
[*]
Client: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Division: Health Promotion/Disease and Injury Prevention Information
Award: Merit
Web site: National Eye Institute [*]
Client: National Eye Institute
Division: Patient Education Information
Award: Merit
The Web Health Awards program is an extension of the HIRC's 16-year old National Health Information Awards (NHIA) [*], the largest program of its kind in the United States. A panel of international health information and Internet experts judge entries based on accuracy, success in reaching the targeted audience, and overall quality.
For more information:
Contact Westat
04/20/09
Westat will be exhibiting at several conferences and job fairs in April and May 2009. Representatives will be on hand to speak with prospective clients and staff. See the following list for conferences, dates, and sites.
Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP)
Global Conference [*]
When: April 24-28, 2009
Where: Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado
Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Career Fair [*]
When: April 28, 2009
Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
Partnerships with CROs
[*]
When: April 28-30, 2009
Where: Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, Orlando, Florida
2009 American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) Conference
[*]
When: May 14-17, 2009
Where: Westin Diplomat Convention Center, Hollywood, Florida
Global Health Council International Conference
[*]
When: May 26-30, 2009
Where: Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC
For more information:
Contact Westat
04/07/09
Scott Crosse, PhD, a Westat Associate Director, and Rita Rumbaugh, Montgomery County Public School’s substance abuse prevention specialist, will speak at the third in a series of seminars for the 2009 Contemporary Social Issues Seminar Series sponsored by the Rockville Institute and the Universities at Shady Grove.
This month’s seminar is titled Are Schools Using Effective Drug and Crime Prevention Programs? It will be held on Thursday, April 16, at 4:30 p.m. Each seminar, which is free and open to the public, is held in the Camille Kendall Academic Center [*], Building III, Room 3241, 9636 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, Maryland, 20850.
This presentation will highlight research findings and the gaps in knowledge pertaining to the identification of effective school-based prevention programs and the adoption of those programs. It will cover the following:
The presentation also will describe efforts to develop a list of research-based programs that is intended to overcome some of the concerns about previous lists, and to examine the prevalence of those programs in schools. It will conclude with a discussion of the challenges to improving prevention programming in America’s schools.
Health Information Technology: A Prescription for Today, the next and final seminar this spring, will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at 4:30 p.m.
04/01/09
Westat researchers from several study areas will be serving as discussants, presenters, and professional development course instructors at this year's American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting [*]. The meeting will be held in San Diego, California, April 13-17, 2009.
AERA is the most prominent international professional organization advancing the dual goals of educational research and its practical application. The annual meeting convenes more than 14,000 educational researchers from the United States and abroad.
Reflecting our organization's broad range of research activity, Westat attendees will be discussing a diverse set of topics, including early education and child development, health evaluation, teacher pay-for-performance, informal science education, school libraries, rural education, and research methodology, among others. The following is a list of Westat staff contributing to this year's conference.
Joy A. Frechtling (Discussant). Assuring That Large-Scale Evaluations of After-School Programs "Pay Their Own Way."
Jennifer A. Hamilton, Allison Meisch, Matthew Carr, Ian Petta, and Karen Gray-Adams. Literacy Interventions in the Middle Grades: Results from the First 2 Years of Striving Readers.
Jennifer A. Hamilton, David Judkins, Patricia Troppe, Adrienne Von Glatz, and Babette Gutmann. Classroom Literacy Interventions and Outcomes Study (CLIO): Implementation Challenges and Lessons Learned.
Craig Love. The Many Faces of Evaluation: What Evaluators of Educational Programs Can Learn From Other Disciplines.
Joan S. Michie. What Have We Learned From the Two National Evaluations of the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries Program?
Tom E. Munk (Discussant). Methodology and Instrumentation for Mathematics Education Research.
Robert Colby Perkins and Stephen E. Roey. A Further Examination of Mathematics and Science Coursework and NAEP Science Assessment Performance.
Robert Colby Perkins and Stephen E. Roey. The Uneven Achievement Gaps: Findings From the NAEP 2005 High School Transcript Study.
Robert Colby Perkins and Stephen E. Roey (Instructors). Professional Development Course. Accessing and Analyzing High School Transcript Study Data for Educational Research Purposes.
Victoria Schaefer. Facing an Uncertain Future: Aspirations and Achievement of Rural Youth.
Gary P. Silverstein. Findings from a Pilot Study of the Informal Science Education Program's Project Monitoring System.
John Wells, Keith MacAllum, and Xiaodong Zhang. Teacher Responses to Pay-for-Performance Policies: Survey Results From Four High-Poverty, Urban School Districts.
Kitty Williams and Trevor Williams. Self-Efficacy and Performance in Mathematics: Reciprocal Determinism in 30 Nations.
For more information:
Contact Westat
03/17/09
The Society for Technical Communication (STC) recognized several Westat products in its Distinguished Technical Communications 2008-09 [*]. Two products won Awards of Excellence and the others Awards of Merit. The products were commended for their high level of professional work in the areas of technical publication, technical art, and online communication.
Two Westat projects received Awards of Excellence:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/Center for Mental Health Services:
Assertive Community Treatment Kit
Technical Publication Competition: Reference Materials Category
This kit is a component of a series of toolkits (referred to as KITs) for mental health care consumers and those who support and serve
them. The KITs highlight evidence-based practices. The goal of all these KITs is to enable people with mental illnesses to live fulfilling
lives, contribute to their communities, and strive to reach their full potential.
National Science Foundation: Bridges to the Future
Online Competition: Promotional Category
This project created an online archive of a webcast conference. The topics of the conference concerned the challenges and potential
solutions to three aspects of the United States’ infrastructure: electric power, water resources, and the structural condition of roads,
dams, bridges, and buildings.
Four other Westat projects received Awards of Merit:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:
The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) Kit
Technical Art Competition: Promotional Informational Materials Design
This kit consisted of a folder and brochure that would support Westat’s efforts to recruit hospitals to join the DAWN network of
participating facilities. The materials were designed to present a brief overview of the project in a colorful manner that would capture
attention while conveying the messages on the importance of participation.
National Institutes of Health (NIH): Networks for Clinical Research (NCR) Web Site
Online Communication Competition: Reference Materials Category
NIH has an ongoing effort to identify all clinical research networks (CRNs) worldwide and collect basic information about their nature
and scope. To further this effort, Westat redesigned the Inventory and Evaluation of Clinical Research Networks (IECRN) web site, which
was later renamed to NCR. Westat proposed a phased approach to enhance the web site. This approach positioned IECRN products and results
in the marketplace and the clinical research community.
U.S. Department of Education: Changing the Equation
Online Communication Competition: Promotional Category
This video helps parents understand the key findings of the National Math Advisory Panel and supports the implementation of the panel’s
recommendations to improve math education.
U.S. Department of Education: Campus Crime Reporting Training
Online Communication Competition: Tutorials and Training Category
The Campus Crime Reporting Training is an effective online interactive training for postsecondary institutions on compliance and reporting
requirements of the Clery Act. This act requires the reporting of a variety of crime statistics in order to provide the campus community
with accurate, complete, and timely information about the safety of the campus environment so that the community can make informed decisions.
The training video was developed as a companion to The Handbook for Campus Crime Reporting, which was written by Westat and published
by the U.S. Department of Education in 2005.
For more information:
Contact Westat
03/09/09
On March 22-25, Westat staff will participate in the SAS Global Forum 2009 [*] at the Gaylord National Resort Hotel and Convention Center, National Harbor, in Washington DC.
Westat staff members Michael Raithel and Mike Rhoads were invited to present SAS technical papers at the conference. Rick Mitchell is part of a panel discussion at the event. Rachel Brown and Jennifer Fulton co-authored and will present a contributed paper. Sharon Avrunin-Becker and Marie Alexander created a poster for display as a contributed presentation as well.
Altogether, Westat staff is involved in five SAS technical presentations at the conference. Over the past 13 years, Westat staff has presented more than 180 technical papers at SAS conferences. Duke Owen, Conference Executive Board member, and Rick Mitchell, Conference Section Chair, will serve organizational roles at the conference.
The list of papers to be presented by Westat staff and coauthors follows (Westat staff names in bold):
Sharon Avrunin-Becker and Marie Alexander. Wandering Cross-Reference Lines in PROC GPLOT.
Rachel Brown and Jennifer K. Fulton. Backpacking Your Way Through CDISC: A Budget-Minded Guide to Basic Concepts and Implementation.
Rick Mitchell and Stephen Noga. Obtaining, Growing, and Retaining Your Professional SAS® Staff: A Panel Discussion.
Michael Raithel and Michael Rhoads. You Might Be a SAS® Energy Hog If ....
Michael Rhoads. Avoiding Common Traps When Accessing RDBMS Data.
For more information:
Contact Westat
03/04/09
Allison Henderson, a Westat Associate Director; Patrick Schuermann, Ed.D., Research Assistant Professor of educational leadership and public policy at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University; and Dianne Morse Houghton, part of New Leaders for New Schools' executive team will speak at the second in a series of seminars for the 2009 Contemporary Social Issues Seminar Series sponsored by the Rockville Institute and the Universities at Shady Grove.
This month's seminar is titled Money Matters—Performance-Based Compensation in Education. It will be held on Thursday, March 12, at 4:30 p.m. Each seminar, which is free and open to the public, is held in the Camille Kendall Academic Center [*], Building III, Room 3241, 9636 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, Maryland, 20850.
This presentation will examine lessons learned in the bold new experiment of differentiated pay for educators. Using case studies from the federally funded Teacher Incentive Fund program and other differentiated pay systems across the nation, Ms. Henderson and Dr. Schuermann will explore the challenges and successes from the field. Ms. Houghton will share New Leaders for New Schools' practical experiences in implementing a performance-based compensation as part of the District of Columbia Public Schools' sweeping reform efforts.
Other seminar topics that will be covered this spring include:
Are Schools Using Effective Drug and Crime Prevention
Programs?
(Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 4:30 p.m.)
Health Information Technology: A Prescription for Today
(Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at 4:30 p.m.)
02/27/09
Westat employs staff members through a partnership with SEEC, a Silver Spring, Maryland-based nonprofit that provides support to people with developmental disabilities. We are glad to join the growing list of SEEC employers in Montgomery County.
Westat's involvement with SEEC reflects our commitment to the principles of equal employment opportunity, which apply to every aspect of the employment relationship. Our staff members represent the broad spectrum of workers regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, or disability.
"We are proud of our partnership with SEEC," notes Westat Vice President and Director of Administration Bruce Romer. "SEEC provides employees who add value to our organization and contribute to the depth and richness of our workforce."
For more information:
SEEC Online [*]
Contact Westat
02/13/09
Westat has recently opened a new office in Baltimore, Maryland at the University of Maryland at Baltimore (UMB) BioPark. The office currently houses staff working on the Home Visit Program component of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) for the National Institute on Aging. The BLSA, which is one of the Nation's longest running health research studies, is based in Baltimore and the Westat office offers our staff close proximity to the BLSA researchers and study resources.
Westat's office location in the UMB BioPark has the added benefit of access to UMB's biomedical research institutions and life science companies that make their home in the BioPark, with the potential for fostering collaborative working relationships.
Westat is excited about the potential for Baltimore-based growth and the new research opportunities that our new location at the BioPark provides.
For more information:
Contact Westat
02/06/09
Robert C. Ficke, a Westat Senior Study Director, and John J. Kenney, PhD, of Aging and Disability Services of Montgomery County, Maryland, will speak at the first in a series of seminars for the 2009 Contemporary Social Issues Seminar Series sponsored by the Rockville Institute and the Universities at Shady Grove.
This month's seminar is titled Getting Ready for an Aging America: Where Are We, Where Do We Need to Go? It will be held on Thursday, February 12, at 4:30 p.m. Each seminar, which is free and open to the public, is held in the Camille Kendall Academic Center, Building III, Room 3241, 9636 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, Maryland, 20850.
Mr. Ficke and Dr. Kenney will discuss how the rapidly changing demographic of local communities requires planning and development to prepare for an emerging elderly population with a diversity of circumstances and needs. Most of this population will be healthy and independent, while others will need a range of services. Current research and practice can help guide policies and plans for ensuring vibrant communities.
Other seminar topics that will be covered this spring include:
Money Matters—Performance-Based Compensation in Education
(Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 4:30 p.m.)
Are Schools Using Effective Drug and Crime Prevention Programs?
(Thursday, April 16, 2009, at 4:30 p.m.)
Health Information Technology: A Prescription for Today
(Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at 4:30 p.m.)
01/15/09
Dr. Jane Schulman has joined Westat as a Vice President and head of a new unit in our Health Studies Sector devoted to public health and biomedical studies. She brings 25 years of research and management experience in health and life sciences.
Prior to joining Westat, Dr. Schulman worked for Battelle for 16 years, most recently serving as Vice President and Director of Research Operations for Battelle's Health and Life Sciences Global Business. In this role, she managed a diverse scientific and technical staff of approximately 750, including statisticians, epidemiologists, and basic laboratory scientists. Major clients included the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), especially the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Dr. Schulman has authored or co-authored more than 50 peer reviewed publications and final reports on occupational health, the spatial distribution of disease, birth defects, breast cancer, unintentional injuries, smoking-attributable mortality, and the prevalence of tobacco use.
We are honored to have Dr. Schulman as a member of our team and welcome her to Westat.
For more information:
Contact Westat
* Related Internet link - Westat is NOT responsible for the privacy practices or the content on other web sites. (See Westat's Privacy Policy.)
