What We Do

NRC conducts public opinion surveys, performs needs assessments, evaluates existing programs and helps organizations to develop and test anticipated policies. We provide trainings and write curricula and handbooks on the methods and uses of evaluation and survey research. The results of our studies are used to benchmark best practices, budget for new or better services, enhance performance, increase sustainability, improve outcomes, satisfy consumer or client preferences and increase funding and revenue generation.

NRC staff members are fluent in both qualitative and quantitative research strategies and often employ both approaches in a single study. We perform process and outcome evaluations and have extensive experience conducting interviews and surveys, convening focus groups, using observational techniques and secondary data sources. NRC manages its own institutional review board (National Research Center Institutional Review Board, or NRCIRB).

We develop statistical models of what works, employ the framework and methods of meta-analysis to integrate research findings, analyze and improve the psychometric properties of data collection instruments. Our data analysis approaches include a wide array of analytic techniques: simple descriptive data analyses such as frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and cross-tabulations, inferential tests such as ANOVA and chi-square; more sophisticated analyses such as hierarchical linear modeling or modeling with multiple linear regression or logistic regression, time series analysis and multi-factorial analysis of variance; structural tests using factor analysis or cluster analysis.

NRC’s real world approach to research and evaluation enables us to work with clients to design optimal research strategies given constraints of time and money. We pride ourselves on our attention to cultural context in all aspects of our work. This sensitivity is seen in the instrumentation, design and analysis that we recommend as well as in our reports. We strive to form partnerships with the organizations we evaluate to build the trust necessary for the successful introduction of results to staff whose job it is to improve the quality of life of their consumers.