Collaborative Teams

Our people include experts in subject matter, statistics, survey methodology, and programming who leverage our IT and data collection infrastructure to help clients achieve their goals, regardless of project scale or scope. Our connected network of field and professional staff have expertise in recruiting persons, households, educational institutions, businesses, and many other types of organizations for study participation.

The Right Tools

We have the largest field data collection force outside a federal agency and can scale a data collection project as needed. They are supported by staff in operations, IT, training, tracing, help desk support, translation, accessibility, and creative services. Once deployed, we use advanced platforms and technologies to manage logistics and mitigate risks. Westat has built complex field management systems that include highly efficient, effective field operations dashboards for displaying critical information at a glance. These survey dashboards bring production, quality, and cost data together to allow users to examine tradeoffs, take action, and monitor results.

Risk Management

Westat fields several complex, large-scale data collections across the country throughout the year. What happens when there’s a public health crisis or natural disaster that threatens the safety of staff and respondents, and impacts business operations? In recent years, this challenging environment has spurred both researchers and clients to find new ways to make all modes of interviewing more responsive and to balance issues such as schedules, quality, cost, and response rates.

Looking Forward

Westat is looking ahead to create more resilient surveys and approaches, using telephone interviewing in more thoughtful ways, expanding the use of video and web interviewing, and exploring other multimode combinations. It is a matter of targeting the right approaches to engage respondents, reduce their burden, and keep response rates high.

Data Collection in Action

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

What is the most complete source of data on the use and costs of health care for Americans?

Policy changes in the U.S. health care delivery and financing system affecting how Americans use and pay for health care services and prescription drugs require continuous large-scale data updates.

Read More about What is the most complete source of data on the use and costs of health care for Americans?