Survey Research Center at the Catherine Cutler Institute
The Survey Research Center (SRC) is part of the Catherine Cutler Institute, the research arm of the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine. The dedicated staff of professional researchers and interviewers at the SRC are passionate about collecting and analyzing data to provide you with valuable insights to inform decisions in public sector organizations across non-profits; municipalities; and federal, state and local agencies.
The Survey Research Center is made up of a small team focused on quality survey research needs spanning consulting, design, distribution, analysis and reporting. The team has a proven track record in providing value to organizations using data and insights gleaned from surveys. The team knows how to ask the right questions to get to the heart of what you are trying to understand.
We have experienced interviewers, some of whom have been with us for over 20 years. Our interviewers are trained on research techniques and the specifics of each survey project. Interviewers are matched to projects best aligned to their skills and experience. And, as part of Catherine Cutler Institute, we can also tap into a strong network of subject matter experts and analysts across the Muskie School of Public Service.
Our methods are efficient to give you the most value for your budget. Once the survey is complete, we know how to best read, clean, and analyze the data. We understand how to pull out the most valuable trends and insights to report back in a clean, concise, and visual manner.
We’re a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research and subscribe fully to AAPOR’s Code of Professional Ethics and Practices.
The Survey Research Leadership Team
Robyn is a graduate of Muskie’s School of Public Service and has been working for the Cutler Institute since 2013. She works closely with Cutler staff across multiple disciplines and University faculty conducting independent research and directs survey research efforts with external clients and partners.
Robyn is a member of the Maine Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) and provides guidance and analytical oversight on a handful of projects related to justice policy.
Robyn’s primary interest on all projects is finding the meaning in data and conveying that meaning to an audience that does not generally think quantitatively.
After starting out as a phone interviewer, Clare moved into a research role at the Survey Research Center in 2021.
Prior to her position at the Survey Research Center, Clare worked in the healthcare field providing administrative and clinical support in a variety of healthcare facilities in Colorado. She enjoyed working with patients directly and attended the University of New Hampshire where she earned her Master of Science in Nursing in 2015. It was during this program that she discovered her love of research.
Outside of work, Clare enjoys hiking with her dog, bowling, pottery, and camping. She is currently working toward a certificate of graduate study in applied research and evaluation methods at the University of Southern Maine.
Margaret has 30 years of survey experience encompassing phone, mail, online, in-person, and observation surveys.
In addition to her supervisory duties of hiring and training new interviewers, Margaret monitors the interviewers as they conduct surveys and assists them with ongoing training. She plays a large role in survey design. Her writing skills contribute to the clarity and conciseness of the surveys conducted by the Survey Research Center. She does extensive testing of each survey prior to launch to perfect survey logic and flow. Following survey completion, Margaret acts as editor on final written reports to ensure accuracy and understandability.
When she’s not working, Margaret enjoys being with family and friends and her church activities. She enjoys being outdoors, walking, swimming, and kayaking.
