About Us

The Survey Research Unit (SRU) was established in 1994 and began surveying operations in 1995. The primary purpose of the SRU was to collect survey data for the Center for the Study of Community Health (formerly Center for Health Promotion) research demonstration studies in the Alabama Black Belt. In 1998, the SRU expanded to include a twelve-station Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI). In 2003, the SRU again expanded to 27 CATI stations and in 2006 expanded to its current capacity of 40 CATI stations. In addition to conducting computer-assisted telephone interviews, the SRU also provides services for completing surveys in-person, by mail or fax. Data entry services are also available.

Along with its physical growth, the SRU has also widened its scope of practice to include clients outside of the Center. Consequently, the SRU has conducted numerous surveys for faculty members at UAB, the Alabama Department of Public Health, and other organizations and universities. Since its inception, the SRU has completed more than 70 survey projects and 200,000 interviews. Although, the clientele has grown, all of the survey work shares an emphasis on health-related issues.

The SRU functions as a business unit whereby survey projects are contracted with clients for detailing the scope of work and budget. The SRU is expected to be, and has been, fiscally independent by supporting its services through client funds only.