Postsecondary and Adult Education
Westat has extensive experience performing policy-related research on a broad variety of topics,
including research infrastructure, adult literacy, financial costs of postsecondary education, performance
measurement, and distance education.
- The Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities has been sponsored biennially by the National Science Foundation (NSF) since 1986. Westat is currently under contract to conduct the fiscal year 2003 and fiscal year 2005 survey cycles. The survey collects data on the amount of research space available in research facilities of colleges and universities as well as nonprofit hospitals and biomedical research organizations, and on the condition of the space. Westat assisted NSF with an extensive redesign of the
survey, using literature reviews, site visits, cognitive interviews, and expert panels to determine how
the questionnaire might be improved and how to increase the usefulness of the survey data. Beginning with the 2003 cycle, a new section of the questionnaire focuses on computing and networking capacity. Westat performs
the following:
- Cleans the survey frame,
- Recruits institutions,
- Collects data using a web-based survey,
- Prepares detailed statistical tables,
- Conducts ad hoc analysis and methodological investigations, and
- Convenes workshops to address emerging topics related to research capacity.
- National Adult Literacy Survey (NALS) was the first federally sponsored study to
measure the literacy skills of a nationally representative sample of adults (aged 16 and older) and to
determine how these skills are distributed across major subgroups of interest. Approximately
26,000 in-person interviews and literacy assessments were administered by 400 Westat interviewers
over a 6-month period. Westat performed the following tasks:
- Conducted a large pilot study,
- Conducted sample design and selection,
- Conducted data collection,
- Prepared a weighted data file, and
- Prepared a final report.
- Through the Postsecondary Education Quick Information System (PEQIS), Westat has conducted
more than 15 surveys on policy-relevant topics for NCES, such as the following:
- Distance education,
- Dual enrollment of high school students in college,
- Remedial education,
- Students with disabilities, and
- Educational technology in teacher education programs.
In addition to developing the questionnaire and collecting data by mail, web, and telephone, Westat
analyzes the data and prepares survey reports.
- Westat has supported NCES on a variety of statistical analysis and technical development tasks
related to postsecondary education, including the following:
- Analyses and report preparation for the 1999 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty,
- Operation of a helpdesk to assist postsecondary institutions in meeting reporting requirements for NCES web-based surveys on campus crime and the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act,
- Research and preparation of the Campus Crime Statistics Compliance Handbook and conduct of training workshops,
- Web surveys of state education officials to determine their satisfaction with the Department of Education, and
- Online focus groups to evaluate the usefulness of a data analysis system.
For more information about the Education Research Area,
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