North Central Region Household Data (NCR-Stat): Baseline Survey

The NCR-Stat: Baseline Survey is the first of NCRCRD’s regional household surveys and includes questions related to topics crucial for household and community development and wellbeing. All data gathered via the NCR-Stat Baseline Survey will be available for those who would like to use the data as a baseline for further research and extend the portfolio of already existing databases.

The NCR-Stat: Baseline Survey is a 20-minute survey designed to provide a baseline from a social and economic perspective. The survey focuses solely on households in the NCR states and asks questions about household demographics, income, workforce participation, entrepreneurship, caregiving, human capital, housing, broadband access, placemaking, community leadership, and civic engagement, health and wellness, food security, and environment.

The primary purpose of this initial survey is to get a better picture of the NCR and learn more about respective topics. The Baseline Survey is also a starting point for following surveys on specific thematic areas.

To collect the necessary data, we designed an online survey using Qualtrics. The goal was to maximize participation in the survey throughout the states, across rural and urban areas, household types, and race and ethnicity.

Qualtrics® distributed the survey and gathered data based on pre-defined sampling quotas and screening questions. Based on the population characteristics of each NCR state, Qualtrics® applied two different data gathering methods. An online survey was distributed to households in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. A mixed-method approach (online panel and Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing – CATI) was used in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.