Kercher Center Services and Activities
Professional research expertise
Principal investigators on Kercher Center for Social Research projects hold faculty appointments in the Department of Sociology and collaborating departments at Western Michigan University. They are assisted by a professional staff and experienced graduate and undergraduate research assistants from the Department of Sociology.
Cost-effective service
The Kercher Center is available for professional consultation on various research projects. The center has often worked on a contractual basis for nonprofit organizations. As a part of Western Michigan University, the center operates on a cost-recovery basis and offers highly competitive rates. To discuss a potential project with the Kercher Center, contact, Dr. David Hartmann.
Survey research
The Kercher Center researchers have extensive experience in sampling techniques, survey design, data collection and analysis. Entire studies, from research design to final report, are completed at the Kercher Center.
The center specializes in a variety of survey methodologies and has conducted telephone, mail and Web-based surveys. Investigators on center projects have extensive experience in each of these areas. Recently, survey research has increasingly moved towards Web-based designs for a variety of reasons including the reduced cost to field the survey and the added convenience for participants. The center offers a variety of Web-based solutions for data collection including mass-marketed surveys and more private designs targeted at specific groups or individuals. Web-based surveys can also be designed with either anonymous or tracked participants, with security in place to ensure data safety.
Qualitative techniques
Kercher Center researchers also have extensive experience with a broad range of qualitative research methods and have utilized these qualitative techniques to investigate a wide range of topics. Center researchers have experience conducting open-ended, in-depth interviews; ethnographic field research; case studies on particular firms and industries; archival research; policy formulation and implementation research and comparative and historical research.
Center researchers have utilized qualitative research techniques in combination with survey research methods to conduct a variety of projects. They have used focus groups and in-depth interviewing, especially in the early stages of project development, to identify, explore and clarify important parameters, points of view, and project goals for survey and evaluation projects. These techniques allow the center to better focus on subsequent methodologies such as surveys and secondary data searches.
Program evaluation
The Kercher Center works closely with its clients and stakeholders and offers process and outcome evaluation, formative and summative evaluations, needs assessments and assets, and other community mapping studies.
Consultation
The Kercher Center provides professional consultation on various research projects with faculty in sociology and other departments at WMU, with researchers at other universities, and with representatives of government agencies and community organizations in the region.