Survey center back in business

Monday, Nov. 13, 2006 | 7:33 a.m.

Public opinion surveys such as the one that led to the statistical portrait of Nevada's seniors are the mainstay of UNLV's Cannon Survey Center.

Named for former U.S. Sen. Howard W. Cannon, D-Nev., and begun in 1977, the center was inactive in 2004 due to leadership changes, and was then transferred from the College of Liberal Arts to UNLV's Educational Outreach Division.

Run by self-described "survey nerd" Pamela Gallion, the survey-for-hire center conducts phone and mail surveys for government agencies and private businesses, and is funded solely by grants and contracts. The center also offers survey help to UNLV researchers.

Current projects include a tobacco awareness survey for the Southern Nevada Health District, a flood awareness survey for the Clark County Regional Flood Control District and a services assessment for the Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation.

"We're glad to be back and producing some studies," said Gallion, who worked under the prior director before the center's hiatus.

The center hires seniors and student workers part-time for its phone banks, and relies on student interns studying research methods.

- Christina Littlefield