Message from the Director

Established in 2010, the Quantitative Initiative for Policy and Social Research (QIPSR) organizes a variety of events to enhance policy-relevant research at the University of Kentucky. Find out more about upcoming QIPSR events on our website. Every year, QIPSR organizes four types of events: (1) research and statistical workshops, (2) grant workshops, (3) an annual conference, and (4) practical software workshops including a Software Festival introducing programs such as STATA, R, SAS, SPSS and others. Also, be sure to explore the Learning Materials that are posted from past events—videos, papers, and PowerPoints of the presenters. The materials are excellent instructional tools. Past participation and attendance at QIPSR events clearly demonstrates strong interest across the University and in the Commonwealth.

QIPSR’s success depends on the support of faculty, students, co-sponsors and donors. If you want to improve quantitative policy research at the university or the quality of life in the world or the Commonwealth, one way to do that is to support QIPSR.

      --Mark Peffley, University Research Professor, College of Arts and Sciences

Our Mission

QIPSR’s mission is to (1) support cutting-edge research and analysis of policy issues and (2) provide scholarly engagement that enlightens educators, policy officials, students, and the general public. Thus, the ultimate goal of QIPSR is to improve policy and government performance through the production and distribution of world-class scholarship.

QIPSR is based in the College of Arts and Sciences, but is committed to enhancing quantitative policy research across the various colleges of the university. QIPSR carries out its mission in several ways, by:

►  Organizing workshops in innovative statistical and quantitative methods, as well as research and grant workshops

►  Encouraging high-quality interdisciplinary research across departments and colleges

►  Disseminating research findings that address significant policy challenges in the Commonwealth and the rest of the world.

You can download the QIPSR 2013 Progress Report here to find out more about our first three years. 

For more information, please contact the director:

Mark Peffley (mpeffl@email.uky.edu)