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SCG uses various methods and combinations of approaches to collect primary and secondary data, including mail and telephone surveys, personal and telephone interviews, literature searches, and database searches. SCG staff also have contributed to the development of research methods, in areas such as environmental life-cycle assessment and assessment of environmentally preferable products.
In collecting scientific and technical information, SCG uses the latest, most efficient survey, interview, and search techniques. In conducting written surveys, SCG selects the sample, designs the survey instrument, disseminates the instrument, tracks the responses, conducts followup with nonrespondents, organizes and analyzes the responses, and presents the results in an appropriate format. For personal and telephone interviews, SCG develops interview guides tailored to each specific interview situation. We thoroughly document all interviews, analyze the responses, pose followup questions as necessary, and present the results in the format that is most appropriate for our client.
Using the most effective search strategies, SCG conducts searches of the world’s literature for technical and scientific information. We conduct computer and manual searches to identify relevant data in the published literature and the many databases that are available online. To supplement computerized searches, SCG reviews hardcopy indices and abstracts and conducts tree-searches of bibliographies and manual searches of recent journal issues. We organize and analyze the information obtained during these searches and present the data in a manner that most effectively meets our client’s needs.
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