COVID States Survey Module Competition

The COVID States Project is an NSF-funded initiative. The project was launched in March 2020 to track the public’s reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic via large-scale surveys. Each survey includes sizable samples from every U.S. state and the District of Columbia, allowing researchers to identify spatial variation. Twenty-two waves of data have been collected, measuring topics such as preventive behaviors, support for restrictive policies, evaluations of governmental and scientific actors, social networks, COVID-19 knowledge and misperceptions, and more. Examples of how the data have been used are available here. Data are based on non-probability quota-based sampling set to meet state-level demographic quotas, with recruitment conducted by the online polling vendor PureSpectrum. Weights for national and state representation also are available.

The project is excited to announce an opportunity for researchers to propose modules to be fielded on a survey (of roughly 20,000-25,000 respondents) that will be implemented during the summer and early fall of 2022 (up to September 2022). Specifically:

• Modules can focus on any substantive topic where state-level data or large scale (e.g., over-samples, heterogeneous effects) data may be useful.

• Priority will be given to proposals that include COVID-19-related issues, although this is not a requirement to apply.

• A module should approximate roughly 5 minutes or less of survey time (we ask submitters to confirm this prior to submission since times vary depending on question format and complexity).

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• Submissions can include survey experiments and/or can focus on specific sub-populations if those populations compose at least 10% of the general US population. (In this case, however, applicants should note that the overall N will be smaller, and it is unlikely that there will be sufficient numbers for analysis by state).

The application process is as follows:

• We welcome submissions from any researcher affiliated with an academic institution.

• A researcher can be part of no more than two module submissions.

• Each application should include the rationale for the module, how it will advance extant knowledge, and why the COVID States Project (e.g., state-level samples, a large sample) offers an advantage relative to other data collection approaches. The application should include the specific module/items and a time estimate (how long it will take to complete). Researchers should also include a biography of up to 200 words (or biographies in cases of team applications) that includes years to/from PhD and how they or their work contributes to promoting diversity and equity within the profession.

• The entire application, excluding the specific module items (questions) and the biography/ies, should be no more than 5 double-spaced 12-point font pages.

• All applications will be reviewed by a review board, with final decisions made by the COVID States Principal Investigators.

• Accepted modules will have to obtain IRB approval from the applicant’s institution.

• Particular consideration will be given to early career scholars and those from underrepresented groups.

• Decisions will be made on a rolling basis. Accepted modules will be added to a survey collected during the summer and early fall of 2022. The applicant will receive the data from the module along with standard demographic and political variables and will have exclusive access for one year from delivery, after which the data will be made public. The applicant also can request data from prior waves of the COVID States Project relevant to the module.

• COVID States anticipates fielding up to six modules, spread over three surveys.

• Proposals should be sent as a single PDF file to covidstates@northwestern.edu.

For any other questions, please contact covidstates@northwestern.edu.

The deadline for proposals is June 6, 2022.

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