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Research & Publications -> On-going Research
-> Survey Research Center
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Survey Research Center
A partnership between Political Science, Sociology/Anthropology, Psychology, and IIRA.
Project Overview
The College of Arts and Sciences Survey Research Center (COAS-SRC) was conceived as a survey lab in which students and faculty could interact in the design, administration, analysis, and dissemination of survey research for WIU units and external agencies. The Center is designed to give students hands on experience with survey work utilizing the latest technology but also grounding students in the "science" of survey research. The center also serves as a resource for faculty, university support personnel, and the Western Illinois region from which they can administer surveys, hone their survey skills, or "contract" for services when needed.
Annual Survey
A current interest is to establish a "flagship" survey instrument that brings statewide, and possibly national, recognition to WIU faculty and students by re-initiating the IIRA's Illinois Rural Life Panel Survey (IRLP) instrument through the COAS-SRC. The IRLP, administered by IIRA for more than a decade, generated academic publications and professional publications plus was used extensively by IIRA to inform state policy makers about rural issues. The survey was discontinued when administration costs exceeded the allotted budget and insufficient faculty interest was shown in using the results for academic publications. However, the previously collected data exist and restarting the IRLP can reinvigorate use of this data.
The SRC project could make the IRLP viable again and stimulate faculty/student research in rural issues because students and faculty will participate in the survey design and collection process as part of their educational and professional activities. The survey will be designed, administered, analyzed and the results disseminated through undergraduate and graduate research methods courses and on-going faculty research. The findings will be published through statewide media outlets, state policy networks, and scholarly conferences and publications.
Illinois Rural Life Panel, 1989-2000
The IRLP was a sample of approximately 2,000 adults living in the nonmetropolitan counties in Illinois. The IRLP served as a tool for gaining and sharing information about non-metropolitan county residents' opinions and experiences about quality of life issues. The majority of respondents lived in small towns, and none of the IRLP members lived in a county which included a city of more than 50,000. Panel members were surveyed annually during the eleven years about various issues. Broadly, the project's goals were to:
- identify trends regarding rural quality of life in Illinois; and
- meet information needs of researchers, advocacy and professional organizations, and community groups.
Below are links the old IRLP surveys and publications related to the survey. Publications require Adobe Reader. You can download this free program here.
| Survey Year
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Topics
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Publications
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| Spring 2000 Survey
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General issues, availability of local skilled services, housing, technology, and women's health issues
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| 1998-1999 Survey
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Arts & cultural activities, public library services, housing, and economic & workforce development.
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| 1997 Survey: Focus on Health
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Obtaining health care, pharmacy services, hospital services, health insurance, and health care support & communication.
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| Winter 1996 Survey
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Community development & services, computers and the internet, recycling, health care, and housing.
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| Winter 1995 Survey
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General issues, crime, taxes, health care, and older adults in rural communities.
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- Illinois Rural Life Panel, 1995 Summary Report, July, 1995 (Vol. 6, Issue 1)
- Illinois Rural Life Panel, Special Report – Quality of Life for Older Women, November, 1995 (Vol. 6, Issue 2)
- Illinois Rural Life Panel, Special Report – Elderly, April, 1996 (Vol. 6, Issue 3)
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| Winter 1994 Survey
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Life in your community, transportation needs, health care, elder care, and arts & cultural activities.
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- Illinois Rural Life Panel, Summary Report – Health, August, 1994 (Vol. 5, Issue 1)
- Illinois Rural Life Panel, Summary Report – Transportation, October, 1994 (Vol. 5, Issue 2)
- Illinois Rural Life Panel, Special Report – Aging in Place, November, 1994 (Vol. 5, Issue 2)
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| Winter 1993 Survey
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Health care, state issues, quality of life, education and other youth-related issues, and commuting.
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- Illinois Rural Life Panel, Summary Report – Health Care, August, 1993 (Vol. 4, Issue 1)
- Illinois Rural Life Panel, Summary Report – Quality of Life, August, 1993 (Vol. 4, Issue 2)
- Illinois Rural Life Panel, Summary Report – State Issues, September, 1993 (Vol. 4, Issue 3)
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| Spring 1992 Survey
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Taxes & education, local services, and state issues.
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- Illinois Rural Life Panel, Summary Report – State Issues, July, 1992 (Vol. 3, Issue 1)
- Illinois Rural Life Panel, Summary Report – Education and Property Taxes, July, 1992 (Vol. 3, Issue 2)
- Illinois Rural Life Panel, Summary Report – Businesses, Services and Employment in Rural Illinois, August, 1992 (Vol. 3, Issue 3)
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| Spring 1991 Survey
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Future of Illinois, energy, education, health issues, computers, taxation, leisure activities, community environment, quality of life, and attitudes of society.
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| April 1990 Survey
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Economic development, local issues, health care, marketing, general issues, and community life.
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| December 1989 Survey
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Quality of life, tourism, state issues, and household characteristics.
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