Westat

Westat Westat is an employee-owned research organization based in Rockville, Maryland that provides statistical activities, research services, and survey research to public and private institutions. Founded in 1963, the firm conducts large-scale studies and program evaluations for federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and international institutions. Westat combines expertise in survey methodology, biostatistics, data collection, and information technology to support policy development, program improvement, and scientific research.

History

Westat was established in 1963 by Edward T. Berger during a period of rapid expansion in federal social programs associated with the Great Society initiatives and the growth of agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health. Early contracts included work for the National Center for Health Statistics and studies related to the National Science Foundation and the Department of Education. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Westat expanded its portfolio to include health services research for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and large-scale education surveys for the Institute of Education Sciences. In the 1990s and 2000s the company integrated advances in computing and geographic information systems while undertaking evaluations for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and studies tied to the Social Security Administration. More recent decades saw collaborations with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the U.S. Census Bureau, and international organizations such as the World Health Organization and the World Bank.

Organization and Leadership

Westat is structured as an employee-owned corporation with a professional leadership team and a board overseeing strategic direction. Executive leaders have included senior staff with backgrounds connected to institutions such as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the Brookings Institution, and the Kaiser Family Foundation. The organization employs statisticians, epidemiologists, survey methodologists, and data scientists who often hold appointments or affiliations with universities and research centers like Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University, and the University of Michigan. Project management and policy liaisons frequently interact with program offices across agencies including the Department of Education, the Department of Justice, and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Services and Methodologies

Westat offers services encompassing survey design, probability sampling, randomized controlled trials, longitudinal cohort studies, qualitative interviews, and program evaluation. Methodological approaches draw on classical survey theory informed by contemporary practices from scholars associated with the American Statistical Association, the International Association for Public Opinion Research, and the Society for Clinical Trials. Technical capabilities include computerized data collection platforms, secure datacenters compliant with standards promulgated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and laboratory procedures applied in studies coordinated with the Food and Drug Administration. For health-related projects the firm applies protocols consistent with guidance from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In education and workforce studies, Westat implements assessments aligned with frameworks used by the Programme for International Student Assessment and the National Assessment Governing Board.

Major Projects and Clients

Westat’s clientele has encompassed numerous federal agencies and prominent foundations. Major engagements have included household surveys conducted for the U.S. Census Bureau, the design and field operations for studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, evaluations for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and technical assistance contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Foundations and nonprofit partners have included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Internationally, Westat has supported projects for the World Bank and the United Nations Children's Fund. The company has also performed large randomized evaluations and national monitoring for programs affiliated with the Head Start Program and workforce initiatives connected to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethics

Westat maintains policies addressing research ethics, participant protection, and data confidentiality consistent with oversight bodies such as institutional review boards affiliated with National Institutes of Health grants and standards promulgated by the Office for Human Research Protections. The firm emphasizes compliance with federal procurement rules administered by the General Services Administration and audit practices aligned with guidance from the Government Accountability Office. Westat engages in workforce development partnerships with academic institutions including George Washington University and Towson University and participates in philanthropic and pro bono research support for organizations such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and other nonprofit health entities.

Category:Research companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Rockville, Maryland