Democracy International, Inc. :: Expertise - Survey Research Design, Data Collection and Analysis

SURVEY RESEARCH DESIGN, DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Democracy International offers expertise in research methods and the design, execution, and use of opinion research. The firm can help political parties, election authorities, NGOs, USAID, and others take advantage of survey research for strategic and tactical planning, constituency identification, message development, and voter education programs. We also use survey research to advise clients on the design and evaluation of democracy and governance programs and have experience with monitoring and evaluation.

Democracy International can provide clients with a full range of opinion research services. Our researchers have experience designing, executing, and analyzing studies ranging from multi-country longitudinal studies to small-sample in-depth interviews for local councils. We have experience in the use of research for advocacy and membership organizations including civil society organizations, government agencies, legislative bodies, political parties, and grassroots organizations at national and local levels.

The firm's research capabilities include:

Detailed strategic and tactical research study design and budget formulation
Sample design and selection and database management
Questionnaire writing and testing
Execution of phone, mail, in-person, and Internet-based quantitative instruments
Focus group design, moderation, and analysis
Conduct of in-depth interviews and tele-focus groups
Statistical analysis including conjoint studies, factor and regression analysis, and data normalization
Design and preparation of presentation materials and reports
Analysis of third party research
Training on opinion research and quantitative methods

Democracy International's principals and senior advisors are experienced public opinion researchers. Glenn Cowan has managed the Washington, DC office of Opinion Dynamic Corporation, a national public opinion research firm. As discussed above, Mr. Cowan invented the path-breaking parallel vote tabulation (PVT) election-monitoring methodology, which uses principles of statistics to deter or detect fraud in the aggregation ("tabulation") of results in transitional and postconflict elections.

Selected Research Projects

Timor-Leste, Building Quantitative Research Skills (2007-10)
Indonesia, Public Opinion Surveys (2006-09)
Study of Court Reporters and Electronic Recording of Court Proceedings in the U.S. (2006-07)
Bangladesh, Advice on Survey Research (2007)
Guyana, Design of Public Opinion Survey (2004-05)
El Salvador, Training on Opinion Research (2003)
Indonesia, Advice on Exit Polls and Parallel Vote Tabulations (2003-04)

Democracy International, Inc.
4802 Montgomery Lane,
Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814