The Department of Family Studies has a newly established survey research center. The Family Science Survey Research Center (FSSRC), as it is formally named, conducts telephone surveys using social science based survey research methodology. Equipment and software have been purchased utilizing departmental salary savings and incentive funds provided through the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Creation of the survey center grew from an initial project originated by Dr. Jason Hans, Assistant Professor of Family Studies, where he combined his instructional responsibilities for a FAM 475 undergraduate research experience with a small initial investment in technology to gather nation-wide pilot data in his area of academic expertise. Dr. Hans' research interests focus on attitudes and ethical considerations regarding posthumous reproduction and other reproductive issues of individuals and families.
A second project, the inaugural project for the officially designated Family Science Survey Research Center, is nearing completion. The focus of this project is educational attainment of Kentucky women. Dr. Claudia Heath, Professor of Family Studies is PI and Dr. Cheryl Mimbs, Assistant Professor of Family Studies is Co-PI for the funded project. Additional team members are Lesley Martinez, master's student in Family Studies and Brooke Whitehouse, master's student in Career and Technical Education-Family and Consumer Sciences Education. They have been working with an excellent interview team of women students recruited from the UK campus.
The Family Science Survey Research Center has expanded from its initial four calling stations to ten, with the ultimate goal of fourteen stations. "We are excited to have this data collection resource available to facilitate opportunities for research training experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, graduate students choosing the thesis option for their master's degree and doctoral students collecting their own data for their dissertation research will have the opportunity to use the FSSRC for data collection. Likewise, faculty will continue to use the survey research center for both funded and self-funded research projects," said Dr. Claudia Heath.
Dr. Heath has recently accepted the position of Director of the Family Science Survey Research Center. For further information about services of the survey research center, she can be reached at 859.257.7737.