2026 Conference Program

Dr. Ron S. Jarmin, Deputy Director and the Chief Operating Officer of the United States Census Bureau (image)Ron S. Jarmin is an accomplished economist and statistician who has served as the Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. Census Bureau. He has held various positions within the Census Bureau, including Chief of the Census for Economic Studies, Chief Economist, and Associate Director for Economic Programs. Dr. Jarmin has been instrumental in modernizing the Census Bureau's operations, including the introduction of internet response for the 2020 Census and the transition to 100 percent internet data collection for the Economic Census. He has also led research programs aimed at improving economic and social measurements within the federal statistical system. Jarmin holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Oregon and has published extensively in the fields of industrial organization, business dynamics, entrepreneurship, technology and firm performance, urban economics, data access, and statistical disclosure avoidance.

Panelists will discuss lessons learned in participant recruitment, verification, and engagement and how study design can impact data quality. Topics include postpartum mental health, cannabis use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and alcohol use. | -

Presenters will discuss the impact of incentives and web modalities on early survey completions and how to modify subsequent contacts with respondents. This includes case studies from the Current Population Survey (CPS) and other important surveys. Presenters will also discuss how statewide educational data can mask barriers and outcomes for minority populations. | -

This series of presentations explores the automation of status monitoring, reporting processes, data ingestion, and the migration to cloud-based infrastructure. | -

These presentations delve into utilizing artificial intelligence for tasks such as case review, collecting industry classification data, and conducting phone-based interview assessments. | -

Researchers at NORC will share best practices, lessons learned, and training approaches for in-person data collection. The purpose of this panel will be to discuss the innovations, benefits, and tradeoffs that four NORC projects experienced as they incorporated remote trainings for in-person data collection efforts. | -

Learn how leaders like CDC, University of Michigan and Westat recruit, retain, and support their interviewers in a changing environment of work expectations post-COVID. | -

Speakers share innovative approaches for using MMS in text-message surveys, implementing smart call screening, and integrating hearing measurement and wearable technologies into field studies. | -

This session is dedicated to enhancing case management systems, prioritizing field cases effectively, and addressing challenges and limitations associated with Voxco. | -

Do you work in a small shop? Come discuss problems you face and solutions you've implemented given constraints in terms of size, budget, and organizational context. This roundtable will facilitate networking, sharing of ideas, and adapting to ensure that your small shop prospers.

Gaining respondent trust, cooperation, and consent when collecting biologic-specimens in vulnerable populations. In addition, presenters will discuss their experience engaging with IRBs on these types of protocols. | -

Presenters will discuss how to use real time quality control measures to improve data integrity, sampling protocol, and interviewer performance. Discussion will also include erroneous coding and how that impacts operational outcomes. | -

Join attendees with an interest in the technical aspects of survey research for a special roundtable discussion. The open format allows for a range of soft tech management topics and current events impacting survey center technical operations. Everyone is welcome, both techies and "fieldies"!

The Business Meeting is where we discuss the future of the IFD&. Everyone is encouraged to attend; we welcome participation from first-year attendees too! Hear from your 2026 conference organizers: | - Field Technologies Program Coordinator - Sangeetha Immani, RTI International - Field Directors Program Coordinators - Morgan Kidd, East Tennessee State University - Tim Olson, U.S. Census Bureau - Site Coordinator - Joyce Sweeney, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Emeritus - Registrars - Marie Nitschke, University of Wisconsin Survey Center - Kevin Tharp, Indiana University Center for Survey Research - Treasurers - Lindsey Witt-Swanson, NORC at the University of Chicago - Michele Pennington, RTI International

Industry leaders will discuss how to effectively manage staff morale, budgets, and project workloads in an everchanging research landscape. | -

This session will provide a ground level look at different approaches to build strong training programs and reduce trainee burden and costs. | -

Join us to learn about new and upcoming USPS, UPS, & FedEx innovations in a world overflowing with digital surveys. There will be a short presentation, followed by an open floor for questions and discussion. | -

Presenters showcase technology solutions for surveys, including the Location Verification Tool, ArcGIS Mapping, and advancements in community survey methods and paradata collection. | -

This session will start with a presentation focused on using monetary vs. food incentives for medical office administrators in health departments and clinics in South Carolina and Alabama. Then the audience will hear a presentation about the use of non-monetary incentives for the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. The session will then transition into a panel where members from University of Wisconsin, University of Michigan, East Tennessee State University and NORC will discuss more generally their experiences using non-monetary incentives in survey research. Session attendees will have an opportunity for questions and discussion.

This session will explore various challenges of longitudinal studies and how the presenters developed strategies to address these challenges in their studies. Projects include The National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, The National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972, and The Milwaukee Area Finances Study. | -

This session highlights best practices in scientific research, explores effective survey methodologies, and introduces open-source tools alongside machine learning models. | -

This session is dedicated to discussions about optimizing field operations, enhancing reporting, and monitoring data quality. | -

Survey burden and burnout is a growing problem for the digital community. Presentations in this session will provide insights on respondent survey participation and share strategies aimed to increase response rates in an overburdened population. | -

This session will explore the effectiveness of multiple outreach modes, as well as first had experiences with the modernization of longstanding surveys. | -

Presentations in this session provide perspectives on improving automated detection of distress in open-ended surveys and strategies for strengthening data quality in open-link web surveys. | -

This session delves into the performance of multi-mode surveys, the development of Custom CATI solutions, advancements in CAVI, and key lessons learned throughout these initiatives. | -

Panel members will discuss strategies, challenges, and lessons learned developing relationships that are vital to effective recruitment and quality data collection. | -

Presenters will discuss key methods for sample management and panel engagement, as well as how to encourage longitudinal participation among businesses and institutions. | -

Industry leaders will discuss how they develop specialized training methods for non-conventional data collection, assess training quality, and prepare interviewers for stressful conflict situations. | -

This session is designed for researchers, statisticians, and survey methodologists interested in leveraging cutting-edge AI tools to streamline processes and enhance operational efficiency. By showcasing real-world applications and discussing future possibilities, this session aims to inspire attendees to harness the full potential of AI in the survey research process.