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Many area news stories now start with, "A Siena Research Institute poll found...."

Statistics compiled by the Loudonville college's expert and public opinion polls have become widely cited in the media during the three decades since the Siena Research Institute was founded.

"There is an interest and thirst from the public and the media about information," said SRI director Dr. Don Levy. "Our political polls get most of the press and people are familiar with our work."

The institute measures what New Yorkers are thinking on many issues, including political, social, economic, historical, academic, voter and business.

Dr. Levy noted that the institute conducts both the Siena New York Poll - a monthly poll of registered voters on political topics - and the New York State Consumer Confidence Index, which checks how New Yorkers spend on a monthly basis.

In addition, the SRI produces a quarterly consumer conference for different state regions and does surveys for non-profit agencies and organizations, including health care facilities and libraries.

Dr. Levy said the institute's 200 employees, which include Siena students and town of Colonie residents, hear from nearly 200,000 New Yorkers every year.

The SRI polls are one of several produced by Catholic colleges. Marist College in Poughkeepsie conducts polls, as well.

Two years ago, St. Pius X parish in Loudonville hired the SRI to do a membership survey.

"We had a phenomenal response rate of 51 to 52 percent," Dr. Levy recalled. "We asked many questions, including what parishioners are looking for from their parish priests and what are the issues within the Church."

Rev. Michael Farano, pastor of St. Pius, praised the survey for the information it gathered about what parishioners like or dislike.

"It generated a lot of discussion and thinking about what we do here and what they think of parish life here," Father Farano said. He noted that parish staff are still using its results.

Dr. Levy told The Evangelist that the SRI hopes to expand its services to include more area churches and non-profits. "My bias is that it's helpful to people to know what is going on," he said.

(01/27/11) [[In-content Ad]]

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