Information for researchers

As experts in survey science, CHRR at The Ohio State University established the American Population Panel (APP) to assist researchers by providing a group of volunteer respondents ready to participate in research studies.

CHRR, a center for survey research and data services, has 60 years of survey experience designing and administering both cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys. Researchers may be familiar with our work on the National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS) for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Panel recruitment

We employ a diverse range of recruitment strategies, including:

• Traditional address-based sampling,
• Email enlistment,
• Landline and cellphone outreach,
• In-person recruitment, and
• Non-traditional marketing campaigns across print, digital media, and multiple social media platforms.

Upon joining the panel, respondents provide basic demographic information, which is expanded over time with each survey they complete. This allows researchers to develop targeted subsamples and more easily reach their desired study population.

Panel benefits

Compared to traditional sampling methods, the American Population Panel provides researchers with a cost-effective solution for accessing respondents while leveraging CHRR's expertise and services. Many academic research projects operate under strict budget constraints, and our primary goal is to help researchers launch their studies more efficiently and affordably than recruiting participants on their own. Plus, the APP provides long-term contact with participants for longitudinal studies. Its unique structure and management help researchers significantly reduce expenses associated with participant retention while ensuring high-quality longitudinal data collection.

In addition to respondent recruitment, the APP offers a range of services, including:

• Programming and testing survey instruments
• Producing fully documented datasets in multiple formats:
  • Excel/CSV
  • SPSS
  • SAS
  • STATA
  • R
• Managing respondent communication and payments

We also provide additional support in:

• Questionnaire development
• Data analysis
• Sample weight production
• Design and marketing
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) assistance to support researcher submissions

Our expertise spans a wide range of research topics, and we welcome the opportunity to collaborate on your next project!