The SRU conducts telephone, mail,  web and “mixed-mode” surveys to support both on-campus and off-campus research.  Since its inception in 1982, the SRU has completed over 300 local, regional, national, and international surveys.  The SRU typically completes one or two telephone project per month, as well as several web, mixed-mode (web and telephone), and mail surveys per year.  Surveys cover a wide variety of topics including annual Mississippi and U.S. social climate surveys which monitor tobacco control and tobacco use, an annual private forest management cost survey, an annual vocational rehabilitation survey, annual statewide and national social climate surveys, and a tri-annual student health practices survey.  Other surveys include topics such as the feasibility of reintroducing black bears into Mississippi, changing the state flag, alumni interest in locating a cemetery on the MSU campus and peoples reactions to the World Trade Center terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina impact surveys, and the quality of healthcare in Mississippi.

The SRU, in conjunction with the Political Science Department, conducts Mississippi's only scientific public user survey, the Mississippi Poll.

The SRU expanded in 2001, this expansion included an additional room with more interviewing booths (now totaling 20).  In 2002-3 the SRU beta tested the new mixed-mode CATI for Windows software from Sawtooth Technologies, Inc. (we were the first sight to test it).  This software has the capability of simultaneously doing web and telephone surveys for the same study.  Our CATI system has both audio and visual interviewer monitoring capabilities and a rapid dial system.