Glenys Babcock, PhD, Founder and Principal
Trusted by the experts
For more than 30 years, I’ve designed research plans and delivered evidence that organizations rely on to make decisions — from the World Bank, governments in the USA, Russia, Japan, and Canada, to Microsoft and other Fortune 500 companies, and not-for-profits big and small. My academic path was built for this work: a BA in mathematics, with a good dose of theory of statistics and probability, a BA and MA in International Relations, and an MPhil and PhD in Public Policy Analysis — a doctorate I’ve always thought of as a PhD in solving problems, in helping organizations get from A to Z.
Because accuracy matters
I specialize in surveys. I’ve designed a wide range of surveys: a survey of vulnerable populations in Russia’s Far North, including gulag survivors; a 34-country study on kids, food, and obesity spanning most corners of the globe; and a study on how 6 to 15 year olds access the internet without their parents knowing. Early in my career, I interviewed mentally ill homeless individuals in Los Angeles — under bridges, on the streets, in shelters. It’s the kind of fieldwork that teaches you what a textbook cannot.
My survey knowledge is informed, in part, by my own research-on-research. I have been at the forefront of: scientific testing of survey question response scales; A/B testing; using statistical psychographic segmentation to identify and profile key target audience; and development and testing of DEI questions. I’m in the process of writing a book for the new generation of DIY survey practitioners: The Illusion of Science: Bad Surveys and Wonky Data.
Knowledge Transfer
As a presenter and keynote speaker at academic conferences and industry events, I’ve shared what thirty years in this field has taught me. Mentoring is close to my heart. I’ve guided young professionals who have gone on to become leaders in public opinion and market research. Establishing the Survey Science Institute reflects my continued dedication to nurturing the next generation of survey scientists.
If you’re looking to turn uncertainty into confident strategic insight, reach out.
Email: glenys@surveyscienceinstitute.com
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