Honoring a Legacy of Innovation

Rensis Likert, co-founder of the Survey Research Center (SRC), was the first director of the SRC as well as the Institute for Social Research. An organizational psychologist and developer of the Likert Scale—a cornerstone of social science measurement—he also created the System 1–4 framework for identifying organizational management styles. Beyond his methodological innovations, Rensis Likert championed interdisciplinary collaboration and believed deeply in using social science research to effect positive change.

The Rensis Likert Fund for Research in Survey and Data Science

The Likert Fund continues this legacy by supporting innovative research that strengthens how we learn from surveys of individuals and organizations. To keep the survey research vibrant and relevant, the Fund invests in training new investigators who share Likert’s vision for improving how survey data are collected and used. The Likert fund facilitates annual Likert Symposium events and provides ongoing training opportunities for current students in survey and data science.

The Rensis Likert Symposium

A cornerstone of the Fund’s mission is connection and collaboration. Each year, the Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science (MPSDS) hosts the Likert Symposium—a dynamic gathering that brings together experts, researchers, and students from across disciplines.

The Symposium is more than a conference—it’s a celebration of innovation in survey methodology. Participants share ideas, showcase breakthroughs, and build partnerships that shape the future of social research. It’s where the next generation of survey scientists come together to honor Likert’s legacy and push the boundaries of what’s possible.

The Rensis Likert Fund for Students in Survey and Data Science 

Maintaining high-quality research through surveys depends on training and supporting new investigators committed to advancing Likert’s vision of innovation in survey data collection. To meet the evolving demands of today’s survey-based social science research landscape, these emerging scholars need opportunities for specialized training and research in survey and data science. Developing new methodologies is essential to address the changing environment in which this research is conducted.

The Likert Fund provides support to students in survey and data science through a variety of initiatives, including:

• Likert Dissertation Research Award that funds dissertation data collection for current doctoral students in survey and data science, with the goal of advancing publishable contributions to knowledge in relevant fields;
• Likert Dissertation Fellowship that supports students to solely focus on research for their dissertation, with the goal of submitting their work to peer-reviewed scholarly journals;
• Likert Pedagogy Workshops offer opportunities to learn emerging methodological topics, designed for current students in survey and data science and is often accompanied with a hands-on exercise component. MPSDS selects workshop topics with the input from our students;
• Likert Survey Methodology Lab, a student-led weekly forum where students meet and discuss current research in survey and data science; and
• Likert Conference Travel Award that supports students in survey and data science to attend conferences that focus on survey and data science.