Surveys, Measurement, and Statistical Analysis

Navigating change in today’s dynamic, interconnected society requires reliable evidence to drive decisionmaking. Survey measurement and statistics are essential tools for generating high-quality data—they help people and organizations make smart choices and plan for the future.

AIR leverages best practices in survey design and advanced statistical methods to deliver data that informs government policy, business strategy, and individual decisionmaking. With decades of experience supporting a wide range of clients, our experts lead innovations to address industry challenges like declining survey response rates and growing data needs.
 

Our Work

Explore the surveys AIR has supported over the years.

Through thoughtful survey design, efficient data collection, rigorous quality assurance, and customized statistical outputs, AIR produces high-quality data that supports strategic planning and policymaking, program development, and outcome evaluation.

Our Survey Measurement and Statistics Framework highlights our focus areas within statistical support.

Measurement and Statistics graphic
Contact
Rebecca Medway

Rebecca Medway

Principal Researcher
Image of Evan Nielsen

Evan Nielsen

Senior Researcher
Related Topics
Education
Health
Human Services
Workforce
Our Impact
We designed innovative methodological experiments—varying features such as incentives and response modes—for the National Household Education Survey (NHES). Based on the results of these experiments, we recommended improvements for subsequent NHES administrations.
  • Measurement and Design: AIR supports our clients throughout the study design process by soliciting feedback from experts, refining research questions, determining survey solutions that optimize response rates while minimizing costs.
     
  • Planning: Once the study design is finalized, we help our clients plan for data collection efforts. This includes formatting and testing data collection instruments, training field staff, establishing operations and analysis plans, and creating data processing specifications.
     
Our Impact
To help the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provide accurate, timely information about the Healthcare Marketplace to health plan enrollees and providers, we collect data about their call center capabilities.
  • Collection and Integration: We then conduct mixed-mode survey data collection (e.g., by web, phone, and mail), monitor survey responses, implement nonresponse follow-up, and integrate sources to merge data sets.
     
  • Processing: Once the data are collected, AIR prepares them for analysis through a meticulous process that ensures accuracy, usability, and confidentiality. This process includes data checking, weighting, disclosure risk mitigation, and nonresponse bias analysis.
     
Our Impact
We help Nevada educators better understand student and staff experiences by administering annual school climate surveys and sharing the results via interactive web tools that present data at various levels.
  • Analysis, Reporting, and Dissemination: We then apply statistical analysis approaches that are appropriate to the data source and study goals and produce and disseminate materials that present complex information in accessible, useful formats (e.g., reports, interactive tools, infographics).
     
  • Engaging External Partners: Throughout the entire study process—from establishing research questions to designing survey instruments to developing recruitment strategies—we collaborate with researchers, decision makers, and community members to ensure we account for varied perspectives and priorities.
     
  • Monitoring and Quality Assurance: AIR staff receive specialized training to help them implement rigorous monitoring and quality assurance practices throughout every phase of the study lifecycle. Our procedures include live survey tracking, data quality checks, and compliance with HIPAA and FISMA.

Project Highlights

General population surveys

Establishment surveys

Administrative data collections 

Large-scale studies of education programs

Federal, state- and district-wide school surveys 

Longitudinal surveys

National statistics compendium reports

Our Work in Surveys, Measurement, and Statistical Analysis

Project
Community volunteers working together

PlaceWise: Turning Local Data Into Community Action

PlaceWise is AIR's community data and learning initiative that helps local communities and national place-based organizations use data to support ...
Spotlight
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Showcasing National Center for Education Statistics Data Across the Educational Landscape

For two decades, AIR worked closely with the Annual Reports group within NCES to develop and disseminate reports and products ...
Project
Young woman with Down syndrome and her mother doing yoga

Improving Health Outcomes for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: My ROAD

The My ROAD to Health team is creating a free online toolkit to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities ...
Project
Dad and son high fiving over homework at kitchen island

Driving Innovation and Impact Through the National Household Education Survey

The National Household Education Survey (NHES) program provides descriptive data on the educational activities of the U.S. population. The surveys ...