Data with Integrity, Stories with Impact.
Let us help you elevate your research through expert consulting and a commitment to data-driven decision-making.
At MERC, our mission is to transform evaluation, data collection, and analysis into a blend of art and science. We specialize in developing tailored survey and interview instruments, leveraging our research and practical expertise to craft the right questions and methodologies for your project. Our commitment to good data practices ensures that every stage of data collection, management, and reporting adheres to high-quality standards and security protocols. Partnering with MERC offers you the advantage of outside perspectives, providing objective insights from our trained staff in social science disciplines. This approach not only enhances clarity for external audiences but also reveals impacts and outcomes that may have been overlooked.
We believe that data tells a story—one that includes context, recommendations, and results. Our goal is to communicate findings clearly, using accessible language and engaging visualizations. Additionally, we are dedicated to highlighting inequalities and disparities within data, ensuring that every experience is acknowledged and understood. To learn more about us and our Mission at MERC, click on the buttons below.
Our Mission
Data Collection & Analysis
Developing survey and interview instruments is both an art and a science. Drawing upon relevant research and our practical experience, we can help identify what questions to ask and how to ask them. We have the technical skills to design and implement data collection tools appropriate for your project, and to clean and analyze the resulting information. This expertise also translates into efficiency, and you only pay for the services you need.
Our Impact from 2024 to 2025
Our History
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2005
Survey, Statistics, and Psychometrics Core Facility (SSP) is started with Nebraska Research Initiative funding.
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2015
SSP is renamed the Methodology and Evaluation Research Core Facility (MERC) and becomes part of the newly formed Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Consortium (SBSRC). Under this new structure, MERC is funded by the Nebraska Research Initiative for five years.
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2017
MERC becomes a fee-supported service center, with charge out rates. Prior to this, faculty and staff time were charged directly to the grants and contract as percentages of time.
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2019
SBSRC goes through an external review. MERC is noted as an area of strength for the campus, providing value and much-needed evaluation expertise.
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2015-2022
SBSRC was a resource for researchers who wished to connect with the social and behavioral sciences. SBSRC helped researchers identify and build new collaborations and provided mentoring for new investigators through supports such as its partner and referral network, voucher programs, and workshops and trainings. After 7 years of such efforts, SBSRC closed.
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2022
As a unit, MERC is moved within R&I with a concentrated focus on Methodology and Evaluation.
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2025
MERC celebrates its 10th Anniversary. In its first decade, MERC provided services on over 600 projects for over 300 clients, ranging in scope from 1 hour to 7 years!