SJ Research, LLC specializes in customized research designed to maximize insight without sacrificing technical rigor. Principal, Sarah John, PhD, is an expert in managing the entire research process from beginning to end, including research design, data collection, analysis, visualization, report writing, and public dissemination of findings.
A native of Australia, Sarah John PhD, is dedicated to making complex data and ideas both accessible and actionable. Sarah has more than a decade of experience managing high-impact applied research for leading D.C. nonprofits, including FairVote, the Sunlight Foundation, and the Legal Services Corporation. Throughout her career, she has honed her craft, distilling rigorous academic analysis into clear narratives for the public on topics from government transparency, civil legal aid, ranked choice voting, to 19th-century political history. With a Ph.D. in political science and a law degree, Sarah has held academic positions across Australia and the U.S., uniquely positioning her to bridge the gap between scholarly depth and real-world application. When she isn’t thinking about data, Sarah enjoys traveling with her two pugs (and visiting state capitol buildings).
Poll book from the 1864 Election in Elkton, Todd County, Kentucky, showing totals for President Lincoln and General McLellan [sic].
Context. History. Perspective.
More than your typical political science researchers, the folk at SJ Research, LLC are deeply imbued with historical knowledge and a comparative perspective. We can see the bigger picture, informed by place, time, and context. We combine that perspective with creativity, a determination to challenge conventional wisdom, and advanced social science methodologies to produce accessible, actionable, and insightful research findings.
We're a full service firm, offering:
Research proposal writing
Research design
Small-scale survey and questionnaire design, testing, and administration
Primary data collection from historical, legal, and administrative sources (e.g. ACS, Census, Ballot Image Files, Cast Vote Records)
Journalistic research
Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods data analysis
Large and panel datasets
Data visualization and report writing
Presentation of results.
... and more