Research Methodologist

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 areas such as U.S. politics, policy views, news and information, internet and technology, science and society, religion and public life, global attitudes, race and ethnicity, and U.S. social and demographic trends.

Organization:
Pew Research Center

Number of Staff: 180

The Research Methodologist reports to the Associate Director for U.S. Survey Methods and works closely with the Principal Methodologist on sampling, weighting and other programming-intensive duties. Responsibilities include data management, data wrangling, sampling, weighting, quality checking, data and questionnaire archiving, and supporting the ATP Panel Manager as needed during survey preparation and fielding. The role may also support research and experimentation in survey methodology, such as survey nonresponse, question wording effects, and nonprobability surveys.

• Draw and check complex survey samples.
• Create and check survey weights in R.
• Analyze weighted survey data in R.
• Manage survey data in R (cleaning, merging, recoding variables).
• Assist with the operation of the American Trends Panel including sampling, weighting, quality checking, online survey programming, and production support.
• Conduct ad hoc analyses for research and methods teams under oversight of the Principal Methodologist or Associate Director.
• Write methodology sections for reports and maintain methodology-related materials on the website.
• Maintain survey question archive.
• Maintain familiarity with the latest developments in survey methodology.

• Strong proficiency in the R statistical programming language is required (beginner R users would not be a fit for this role).
• Some familiarity with SPSS is a plus.
• 3–5 years of research experience, including 2–3 years of professional experience with probability-based complex survey designs (e.g., drawing stratified samples, constructing weights) and incorporating complex sample designs in analysis (e.g., using weighted data).
• 1–3 years of experience with survey logistics (e.g., testing web survey instruments).
• B.A. degree in survey methodology, statistics, or quantitative social science field is required; advanced degree strongly preferred.

• Ability to work well in a team setting.
• Interest in public opinion and polling.
• Strong familiarity with advanced operations in R (e.g., data wrangling with tidyverse or equivalent frameworks, writing custom functions, reproducible code).
• Familiarity with accessing and working with national public datasets and statistical databases.
• Strong quantitative and survey statistical skills.
• Detail oriented with exacting standards to maintain accuracy and impartiality.
• Problem solving skills, such as diagnosing and debugging unexpected results or errors.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Interest in expanding skills to cover new analytical tools and methods.
• Ability to balance numerous tasks simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.

The typical starting salary for this position is $110,000 annually.

Hybrid: staff are required to be present in the Washington, D.C., office three core days weekly (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday). Staff may work virtually from remote locations on other days.

• Comprehensive health care including medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Paid annual leave plan, including a winter break between December 25 and January 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.
• 37.5-hour workweek.
• Health savings or flexible spending account options with employer funding component.
• Flexibility to telework a portion of each week, with an additional four telework “flex weeks” each year for most staff.

Pew Research Center makes employment decisions without regard to age, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. We encourage applications from candidates who represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.