Our Mission
Tell the Story of Data
Data are not just numbers and clusters of words. There is a story and context to every dataset: why it was collected, how it was collected and from whom, the limitations of the data, as well as the results of analysis and reporting. The best reporting describes these processes and puts the results in perspective. For example, an outcome of 20% may seem high, but if the national average is 40%, that greatly changes the meaning. MERC strives for clear communication of results with easily understood text and simplified data visualizations.
Our Impact
Our History
-
2005
Survey, Statistics, and Psychometrics Core Facility (SSP) is started with Nebraska Research Initiative funding.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
2022
As a unit, MERC is moved within R&I with a concentrated focus on Methodology and Evaluation.