Capital Survey Research Center

Gathering Information the Association Needs

The Capital Survey Research Center (CSRC) is the polling department of the Alabama Education Association. Established in 1996, the CSRC is a 24 station state-of-the-art telephone interviewing center. The CSRC uses a Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) system that allows for extensive controls of demographic and geographic factors such as race, gender, and region. Coupled with random digit dialing selection of telephone numbers, the system produces highly representative survey samples that accurately reflect the population being surveyed.

The center operates four evenings a week, more during election periods, and conducts a variety of polls, including:

           • Statewide Public Policy Issues and Political Surveys
           • AEA Membership Surveys
           • Legislative Issues and Political Surveys
           • Election Surveys
           • Special Surveys for Local School districts and Others

The results of public policy and legislative surveys are used to inform the legislative and policy-making processes and participants, particularly those related to education policy. Special surveys are conducted for local school districts on topics ranging from school calendars to education tax referenda. AEA membership surveys are conducted each year to learn about member attitudes and expectations so that specific programs can be developed or changed to meet the needs of members by charting the course of AEA more accurately.

The CSRC provides an in-house, timely, efficient, productive, and responsive capability to conduct surveys of interest to the mission and welfare of AEA and its membership. CSRC polling data play an important role in the arena of public policy, specifically as it relates to public education policies, programs, legislation, budgets, and personnel.

The CSRC is managed by Dr. Gerald Johnson and is staffed by Leigh Lackey and Vernessa Harris.

Results of recent CSRC polls can be found by clicking here.