The Center for Applied Research and Rural Studies (CARRS) was created through a Michigan Research Excellence Fund grant in 1995. Its primary focus is to address issues of concern to central and northern Michigan. The Center utilizes the resources and academic expertise of Central Michigan University to assist social agencies, governmental units and non-profit organizations who require guidance in order to address social, economic, environmental and community development concerns.

               The Center undertakes studies of local problems while also attempting to provide decision-makers with a broader picture of larger forces that affect the development of or the improvement in the quality of life of the citizens of rural Michigan. Growing regional needs and an increased reliance by federal and state governments on local units of government to address policy problems have created the need for this research center.   

              CARRS servers as an umbrella organization for a number of resources at CMU, including the state of the art survey resources of the computer-aided telephone interview (CATI) laboratory.  In addition, CARRS maintains software allowing for the implementation of sophisticated on-line surveys, personal interviews, and focus groups.  CARRS draws upon the expertise and information resources of CMU, including faculty members in diverse disciplines, a large graduate and undergraduate student population, and numerous informational data bases and centers.  

              CATI Laboratory: The Center offers Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) laboratory for professional quality survey services. The CATI laboratory for professional quality survey services. The CATI laboratory provides computer - assisted interviewing that reduces survey error and provides near - instantaneous poll results similar to those aired by television networks. 

Center for Applied Research and Rural Studies

307 Anspach Hall, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI  48859

Phone: (989)774-2572 ; Fax: (989)774-1844