What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Associate, Internet & Technology position at Pew Research Center?
Organization Overview
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research in the areas of race and ethnicity, U.S. politics and policy views; media and journalism; internet and technology; science and society; religion and public life; global attitudes and U.S. social and demographic trends. Pew Research does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Pew Research Center’s work is carried out by a staff of 180.
Position Summary
The Research Associate is a position within the Pew Research Center’s Internet & Technology team which produces reports exploring the impact of the internet and technology on families, communities, work and home, daily life, education, health care, and civic and political life. Key topics include: technology adoption, social networking and social media, mobile connectivity, artificial intelligence, and digitally-relevant policy issues such as privacy, cybersecurity and harassment. The Center is particularly interested in candidates who are immersed in digital life, understanding the emergent social and political activities that occur on social media and other platforms.
This position will work primarily with surveys and survey data. Fluency with survey processes and sophisticated statistical methods are core components of the job. At the same time, candidates who are familiar with other methodologies, such as data analytics, are also valued.
The Research Associate contributes to all aspects of the research process, including questionnaire design, management of data collection, statistical analysis, data visualization and reporting. Responsibilities include managing research projects, conducting background research and statistical analysis, writing and editing research reports, producing charts and tables and fact-checking research products. This position works closely with other researchers on staff and reports to the Director for Research.
Primary Responsibilities
Survey design and questionnaire development
The typical starting salary for this position is $93,000
Location
Pew Research Center staff are required to be present in the Center’s Washington, D.C., office two core days weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday). Staff may work virtually from remote locations on other days in a typical work week.
Application Procedure
Click on the Apply button, and complete required fields. Both cover letter and resume are required.
When requested, please upload a copy of your resume/cv, as well as a copy of your cover letter in the section labeled Resume/Cover Letter. If the documents have successfully uploaded, you should see 2 attached files beneath the “Drop files here” box. Please make sure you have uploaded a resume AND a cover letter before moving on to the next page.
Total Rewards
In addition to competitive pay, Pew Research Center’s employees enjoy a robust total rewards package that includes:
Pew Research Center makes employment decisions without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. We champion inclusion, diversity and equity, and we encourage applications from candidates who represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research in the areas of race and ethnicity, U.S. politics and policy views; media and journalism; internet and technology; science and society; religion and public life; global attitudes and U.S. social and demographic trends. Pew Research does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Pew Research Center’s work is carried out by a staff of 180.
Position Summary
The Research Associate is a position within the Pew Research Center’s Internet & Technology team which produces reports exploring the impact of the internet and technology on families, communities, work and home, daily life, education, health care, and civic and political life. Key topics include: technology adoption, social networking and social media, mobile connectivity, artificial intelligence, and digitally-relevant policy issues such as privacy, cybersecurity and harassment. The Center is particularly interested in candidates who are immersed in digital life, understanding the emergent social and political activities that occur on social media and other platforms.
This position will work primarily with surveys and survey data. Fluency with survey processes and sophisticated statistical methods are core components of the job. At the same time, candidates who are familiar with other methodologies, such as data analytics, are also valued.
The Research Associate contributes to all aspects of the research process, including questionnaire design, management of data collection, statistical analysis, data visualization and reporting. Responsibilities include managing research projects, conducting background research and statistical analysis, writing and editing research reports, producing charts and tables and fact-checking research products. This position works closely with other researchers on staff and reports to the Director for Research.
Primary Responsibilities
Survey design and questionnaire development
- Develop research questions
- Draft questionnaires
- Seek feedback from external and internal experts on questionnaires
- Conduct advanced statistical analyses of survey datasets
- Compile and analyze trend data
- Analyze and assess key findings
- Prepare tables and charts
- Build and check toplines
- Write in-depth research reports
- Respond to internal and external requests for information
- Present research findings to external audiences
- Allocate resources and staff time to best meet project objectives
- Map out steps in projects
- Set and adhere to deadlines and deliverables
- BA required, advanced degree preferred. 5-9 years of research experience, with at least 3-5 years of specialized research and analysis experience expected. Often includes significant graduate training at the PhD level or equivalent experience in an applied setting.
- Proven experience in undertaking questionnaire development
- Familiarity and experience with a range of statistical techniques, including multiple regression analysis
- Experience in managing research projects, including working collaboratively with other researchers, is highly desirable
- Background in best practices in survey questionnaire development and testing
- Data science/computational social science skills are a plus
- Background in internet and technology topics -- at the policy level and the level of being observant of digital life activities, trends, and emergent technologies
- Quantitative skills, including a proven ability to conduct rigorous data analysis, including substantial experience with SPSS, stata, R, or similar software
- Strong verbal and written communications skills
- Attention to detail, including exacting standards to maintain accuracy and impartiality in all work products
- Editorial judgment and proven ability to communicate research results clearly and concisely in both verbal and written form
- Demonstrated skills in project development and management
- Ability to work collaboratively and collegially with other team members
- Ability to balance multiple projects and meet tight deadlines while ensuring accuracy in data management, fact checking and research
The typical starting salary for this position is $93,000
Location
Pew Research Center staff are required to be present in the Center’s Washington, D.C., office two core days weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday). Staff may work virtually from remote locations on other days in a typical work week.
Application Procedure
Click on the Apply button, and complete required fields. Both cover letter and resume are required.
When requested, please upload a copy of your resume/cv, as well as a copy of your cover letter in the section labeled Resume/Cover Letter. If the documents have successfully uploaded, you should see 2 attached files beneath the “Drop files here” box. Please make sure you have uploaded a resume AND a cover letter before moving on to the next page.
Total Rewards
In addition to competitive pay, Pew Research Center’s employees enjoy a robust total rewards package that includes:
- Affordable, comprehensive health care that includes medical, dental (including adult orthodontia) and vision benefits.
- Generous paid annual leave plan, including a winter break between Dec. 25 and Jan. 1
- Employer-paid disability, life insurance and paid family leave plans
- Up to a 12% employer 401(k) contribution, with vesting at the end of the first year.
- A 37.5-hour workweek.
- Health savings or flexible spending account options with employer funding component.
- Flexibility to telework up to 60% for most staff
Pew Research Center makes employment decisions without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. We champion inclusion, diversity and equity, and we encourage applications from candidates who represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.
Salary : $93,000
