GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

The RESEARCH ANALYST 1 assists in the gathering, compiling, analyzing, and reporting of information and statistical data and assists in drafting this information or data in narrative or schematic form.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is the first level of a four-level series. This class is distinguished from the next higher level by working from well defined guidelines under the supervision of a higher level research analyst or supervisor. Work is reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Employees in this class assist in all aspects of an analytical study from gathering information to drafting a final report. There is an absence of responsibility for projects requiring advanced statistical analysis.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Research Development and Analysis. Typical tasks: assists higher level analysts by gathering and compiling raw data from a variety of sources; assists higher level analysts by contacting agencies and other sources for research information; assists higher level analysts by conducting surveys and analyzing results; assists in developing simple survey research instruments (e.g., questionnaires) conducting surveys to gather and report data; confers with survey respondents to verify accuracy of survey reports; reads computer printouts in order to compile or extract data; writes routine computer report generator language programs such as Easytrieve Plus and Focus; uses computer report generator language software packages such as TPL-Table Producing Language, and SAS-Statistical Analysis System to retrieve, edit, and tabulate data from various data bases and files with the use of computer input devices; assists higher level research analysts providing pertinent information and statistics to data processing personnel; displays and maintains data in graphs, summary tables, and charts; applies elementary statistical tests to various data; may independently conduct simple research when instructed.
2. Research and Statistical Consultation. Typical tasks: assists in providing standard information, data and definitions to agency personnel, other agencies, business groups, associations, and the general public; organizes and analyzes relevant data in printouts, tables, graphs, and charts; may assist in reviewing reports, papers, memos, and articles of other staff to ensure proper use of data.
3. Report Preparation. Typical tasks: assists other analysts by reviewing narrative and statistical information received from internal and external sources; assists in contributing written reports and articles for publications, narratives or statistical reports, studies, and special projects; assists in summarizing data into various formats and assists in writing short reports, simple research monographs and/or sections of major reports.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Employees in this class have frequent telephone or written contact with survey respondents to ask specific questions relating to an informational or statistical project. They also have periodic in person, telephone or written contact with agency personnel, other agencies, business groups, legislative bodies, associations, and the general public to respond to routine informational requests or data needs or to seek information for research projects.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Employees in this class receive general supervision from a research analyst supervisor or administrative supervisor who assigns work orally or through written instructions, explains expected results, and is available for consultation while work is in progress. Forms and reports are reviewed upon completion to ensure the final product is accurate and thorough. As performance warrants employees in this class independently conduct simple research, statistical analyses and develop description statistics (e.g., a method for organizing and summarizing information). Various support projects or tasks are assigned by senior staff and checked for accuracy when appropriate.

Employees in this class follow agency policies and procedures to determine the proper methods of performing duties. Computer manuals are used as resource material when working with computerized equipment and software packages.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Two years of experience in research work. The experience must show the gathering of data from various sources; the tabulating or classifying of data into prescribed formats, forms, or reports; and the using of computers to retrieve, edit, or tabulate data; OR  
• An Associate's degree with courses in research methods or statistics and basic computer concepts.