Welcome to the Bureau of Sociological Research (BOSR)
Thank you for visiting our Web site. Please take some time to read through this site. You will learn about many of the exciting developments in the Bureau and details on services, staff, and current projects. Just select one of the tabs to learn more about the research services that we provide through the Bureau of Sociological Research.
Research Services. In the past two years the Bureau has expanded capacity to respond to a variety of research applications. While continuing to conduct telephone surveys, the Bureau now supports a number of projects that use in-person interviews, focus groups, Web-based surveys, and scannable questionnaire forms. We have recently conducted some work with telephone focus groups and are continuing to evaluate new survey methodologies such as the use of handheld PDA's for data collection.
Space. With the assistance of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Bureau moved in October 2006 to Benton Hall, and was given several additional offices and space for a dedicated interviewing lab. Our main office is now located on the first floor of Benton Hall, in office 118.
Some of our Current Projects
Survey on Promoting Success among UNL Faculty
If you are a University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty member who would like additional information about this study, please click here.
2008 City of Lincoln Budgeting Survey
The BOSR recently completed telephone interviews with about 600 Lincoln residents who weighed in on the City's budgeting process for the Mayor's Office and City Council. If you were not randomly selected to participate in this study, you may voice your opinions about the budget by responding to a short online survey at http://www.journalstar.com/news/local/city_survey/; the online survey is being conducted by the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center (PPC) in cooperation with the Lincoln Joural Star. For more information about the telephone survey, please visit the Mayor's Web page at http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/mayor/index.htm and the PPC's Web site at http://ppc.nebraska.edu/.
Aligning Forces for Quality: Assessment of Consumer Engagement
In cooperation with The Pennsylvania State University and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Bureau of Sociological Research is conducting telephone interviews to learn more about experiences with the health care system in different communities nationwide. The information obtained from this survey will help to inform improvement efforts in the health care system. Each household contacted to take part in this survey has been randomly selected to be part of this national study.
If you received a call from one of our interviewers or a letter from us about this study, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-480-4549 if you have any questions. We look forward to talking to you and hope you will agree to participate in the Aligning Forces for Quality: Assessment of Consumer Engagement study.
NASIS 2007
The Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey (NASIS) celebrates 30 years serving the state as a data collection tool to learn more about how Nebraskans think, feel and live. Each year, researchers from state departments, non-profit organizations and the university contribute questions to NASIS. This year's study includes questions about the state's roadways and fishing opportunities, as well as questions concerning well-being, employment, nursing care and media consumption. If you live in Nebraska and receive a call from one of our telephone interviewers, we hope you will take the opportunity to learn more about this important study. For more information about NASIS and its uses click here.
Roadway Materials & Infrastructure Study
The Roadway Materials and Infrastructure Study is being conducted by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln through a National Science Foundation (NSF) Career Grant. If you are a UNL student in this program and have been invited to participate in this study, click here to complete the survey online.
Engineering Alumni Survey
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering is currently sponsoring a survey of alumni. Asking former students about their post-graduation experience with pollution prevention (P2) and environmental management concepts will help to assess the effectiveness programs in this area. To allow each alumnus to answer candidly and honestly, the College has contracted with the Bureau of Sociological Research to conduct a survey of alumni. If you recently received a letter from us regarding this study, you can click here to complete the survey online using the unique, 4-digit identification number at the top of your letter.
P3 Internship Survey
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering is currently sponsoring a survey of Partners in Pollution Prevention (P3) program alumni. Asking former students about their internship experience at UNL is a critical component of assessing the P3 internship program. To allow each alumnus to answer candidly and honestly, the College has contracted with the Bureau of Sociological Research to conduct a survey of alumni. If you recently received a letter from us regarding this study, you can click here to complete the survey online using the unique, 5-digit identification number at the top of your letter.
Recently Completed Projects
Specialty Cheese Industry Study. An updated Specialty Cheese Report is forthcoming from the UNL Food Processing Center (FPC). Using data collected by BOSR from a telephone survey of specialty cheese producers in the United States, FPC researchers were able to learn more about the specialty cheese market as a whole and gain insight into the types of programs and services that they could develop to assist specialty cheese processors. To access a copy of the 2001 Specialty Cheese Report click here.
Participant Perceptions and Decision-Making Concerning Retirement Benefits Survey. The BOSR recently concluded data collection for this mail survey of individuals who were enrolled in the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement System (NPERS) and either retired or terminated employment with the State of Nebraska in 1997. The researcher is currently analyzing the data from this study. For more information about this study, including the latest results, click here.
Nebraska Eating and Physical Activity (NEPAST) Study. In the spring and fall of 2007, BOSR conducted two waves of telephone interviewing with Lancaster County residents to discuss their views about diet and exercise behaviors to learn how opinions and behaviors about diet and exercise had changed in three-months' time. The researcher is currently assessing the data collected from this study.
By the People (BTP) 2007 provided a unique opportunity for Omaha residents to discuss their opinions about immigration and other issues affecting their community, both through a short telephone survey conducted by the BOSR and within a public forum organized by the UNL Public Policy Center (PPC). You can find news articles and air dates for the BTP broadcasts of this event by logging on to the PPC's Web site, http://ppc.nebraska.edu, or calling 402-472-5678. Thanks for voicing your opinions and making this event a great success.
