HELLO, I’M
Htay-Wah Saw.
Background in Survey Methodology, Data Science, and Policy Analysis.
Htay-Wah Saw.
A PhD Candidate in Survey and Data Science at the University of Michigan and a Research Associate at the University of Southern California’s Center for Economic and Social Research.
About me
Welcome!
Hello! I’m Htay-Wah Saw, a PhD Candidate in Survey and Data Science at the University of Michigan and a Research Associate at the University of Southern California’s Center for Economic and Social Research.
I am a quantitative researcher and survey methodologist with 10 years of experience specializing in data collection using emerging technologies and experimental methods to address both substantive and methodological challenges. My expertise lies in advanced statistical modeling, experimental design, machine learning, and leveraging novel data sources to tackle complex business and societal issues.
Current Research
My current research focuses on improving data quality in online panel surveys and longitudinal data collections. I design and implement randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of theoretically motivated interventions aimed at:
Improving response rates Reducing attrition Enhancing data quality in online panels across multiple disciplines
Wearable Technologies in Survey Research
The use of wearable technologies for population health data collection is an emerging and promising field, but it also presents numerous methodological challenges. My research explores how wearables can enhance survey research, while also documenting potential issues related to data validity, participant compliance, and representativeness.
One of my ongoing projects (PI: Arie Kapteyn) involves a longitudinal study in which we have recruited 900 respondents—balanced by education, race/ethnicity, and household income—through the Understanding America Study (UAS). Participants are asked to wear an air quality monitor (Atmotube Pro) continuously for at least one year. This device:
- Collects pollution and weather data at one-minute intervals
- Transmits real-time data via Bluetooth to a smartphone app
- Captures fine-grained pollution exposure variations across different environments, including homes, workplaces, and daily locations
This innovative approach allows us to generate high-resolution air pollution exposure data at an individual level, which is critical for understanding environmental health disparities and their broader implications.
Explore My Work!
This website showcases my research, publications, and academic journey. Feel free to explore, connect, and reach out if you’re interested in collaboration or learning more about my work.
Have fun exploring!
Education and Skills
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor – PhD in Survey and Data Science, Expected 2025 (GPA: 4.0/4.0)
- Dissertation: Addressing Survey Nonresponse and Attrition in Probability-based Online Panels and Online Longitudinal Data Collections
- Advisor: Dr. Brady T. West
- Award: National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (US$ 20,000)
- RAND Graduate School – PhD, Policy Analysis, 2016
- RAND Graduate School – MS, Policy Analysis, 2014
- Iowa State University – MS, Economics, 2009
- Mansfield University of Pennsylvania – BS, Economics, 2008
Quantitative Skills
• Complex survey data analysis
• Survey methodology
• Longitudinal data analysis
• Hierarchical linear modeling
• Structural equation modeling
• Machine learning
• Causal inference
• Experimental design
Technical Skills
• Stata
• Python
• R
• Qualtrics
Highlighted Research Projects
Addressing Survey Nonresponse and Attrition in Probability-Based Online Panels and Online Longitudinal Data Collections (Principal Investigator)
University of Michigan
2023-2025
- Led two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and an observational study to examine survey nonresponse and attrition in probability-based online panels and online longitudinal data collections.
- Designed and implemented two RCTs: one with 2,000 new respondents from the Understanding America Study (UAS), a probability-based online panel representing U.S. adults aged 18 and older, and another with a random sample of 500 University of Michigan graduate students.
- Collaborated with the Rackham Graduate School and the UAS Research Team on survey design and RCT implementation.
- Secured $20,000 in external funding from the National Science Foundation.
- Drafted and submitted three research papers to top-tier journals on methodological issues.
A Next Generation Data Infrastructure to Understand Disparities across the Life Course (Collaborator)
University of Southern California
2020-2025
- Contributed to the development of an advanced data infrastructure to enhance social science research by enabling more accurate, granular, and comprehensive data collection on the daily lives of U.S. families and individuals.
- Helped administer pollution data collection for 900 respondents who wore Atmotube air quality monitors continuously for at least one year, capturing pollution and weather data at 1-minute intervals.
- Analyzed high-frequency pollution data to uncover patterns of pollution exposure using advanced statistical techniques.
- Presented research findings at leading academic conferences, including the Mobile Apps and Sensors in Surveys Conference and the American Association for Public Opinion Research Conference.
- Drafted research papers for submission to substantive and methodological journals.
Selected Experience
Research Associate, Center for Economic and Social Research
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
2020-2025
- Analyzed online survey data, electronic datasets, and high-frequency longitudinal data to support research projects.
- Employed wearable technologies to collect new population health data (example).
- Prepared grant proposals to secure funding for continued research initiatives.
Graduate Student Research Assistant, Institute for Social Research
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
2023-2025
- Served as lead quantitative analyst for the five-year American Family Health Study (AFHS) contributing to its impactful research on health and survey methodology
- Developed and optimized Stata code to analyze AFHS complex survey data.
- Presented AFHS study findings at multiple leading academic conferences.
- Coauthored and published five research papers in top-tier journals, including Demography and the Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology.
Assistant Policy Analyst
RAND Corporation
Santa Monica, CA
2011-2015
- Evaluated national and state-level policies and shared findings with the public through reports and presentations (example).
- Designed and implemented online surveys for the Social Security Administration to improve data collection and policy evaluation.
- Conducted extensive research on Social Security to support policy development and enhance program functionality (example).
Publications
Saw, H.-W., Kapteyn, A., & Darling, J. (2024). Does Feedback from Physical Activity Measurement Devices Influence Physical Activity? Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial. Survey Research Methods. https://ojs.ub.uni-konstanz.de/srm/article/view/8308
West, B. T., Couper, M. P., Axinn, W. G., Wagner, J., Gatward, R., Saw, H.-W., & Zhang, S. (2024). Toward a New Approach to Creating Population-Representative Data for Demographic Research. Demography. https://doi.org/10.1215/00703370-11693878
Saw, H.-W., West, B. T., Couper, M. P., & Axinn, W. G. (2024). What predicts willingness to participate in a follow-up panel study among respondents to a national web/mail survey? Field Methods, 36(3), 206-212. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X231193311
West, B. T., Zhang, S., Wagner, J., Gatward, R., Saw, H.-W., & Axinn, W. G. (2023). Methods for improving participation rates in national self-administered web/mail surveys: Evidence from the United States. PLOS ONE, 18(8), e0289695. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289695
Wagner, J., West, B. T., Couper, M. P., Zhang, S., Gatward, R., Nishimura, R., & Saw, H.-W. (2023). An experimental evaluation of two approaches for improving response to household screening efforts in national mail/web surveys. Journal of Survey Statistics and Methodology, 11(1), 124-140. https://doi.org/10.1093/jssam/smac024
Saw, H.-W., Owens, V., Morales, S. A., Rodriguez, N., Kern, C., & Bach, R. L. (2023). Population mental health in Burma after 2021 military coup: online non-probability survey. BJPsych Open, 9(5), e156. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.550
de la Haye, K., Saw, H.-W., et al. (2023). Ecological risk and protective factors for food insufficiency in Los Angeles County during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health Nutrition, 26(10), 1944-1955. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980023001337
Owens, V., & Saw, H.-W. (2021). Black Americans demonstrate comparatively low levels of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLOS ONE, 16(6), e0253654. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0253654
Bruine de Bruin, W., Saw, H.-W., & Goldman, D. P. (2020). Political polarization in US residents’ COVID-19 risk perceptions. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 61(2), 177-194. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11166-020-09336-3
Wah, S. H. (2018). Do employers in Myanmar prefer workers who accumulated skills in more advanced countries? IZA Journal of Development and Migration, 8, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40176-017-0106-2
Kapteyn, A., & Wah, S. H. (2016). Challenges to small and medium-size businesses in Myanmar: What are they, and how do we know? Journal of Asian Economics, 47, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asieco.2016.08.004
Kapteyn, A., Banks, J., Hamer, M., Smith, J. P., Steptoe, A., Van Soest, A., Koster, A., & Wah, S. H. (2018). What they say and what they do: comparing physical activity across the USA, England and the Netherlands. J Epidemiol Community Health, 72(6), 471-476. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2017-209703
Manuscripts Under Review or In Preparation
- Saw, H.-W., West, B. T. Evaluating the impact of three incentive schemes on survey nonresponse and attrition in online longitudinal panels. Submitted to Survey Research Methods.
- Saw, H.-W., Kapteyn, A. Personality traits, panel tenure, survey topic, and context as predictors of survey nonresponse patterns in high-frequency online longitudinal surveys. Submitted to PLOS ONE.
- Saw, H.-W., Angrisani, M., & Kapteyn, A. Analyzing the causal effect of survey frequency on nonresponse in probability-based online panels among new panel respondents. In preparation.
- Kapteyn, A., Saw, H.-W., & Weerman, B. Anatomy of pollution exposure by U.S. residents. In preparation.
Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Resume
My full academic CV and resume include details on my education, research,
publications, and professional experience. You can download them here:
Current Position
Research Associate (2016 - Present)
University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Past Positions
Graduate Student Research Assistant (2020 - 2024)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Assistant Policy Analyst (2011 - 2015)
RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA
Research Grants
My research has been supported by various prestigious grants, including:
- 2024: National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant
- 2023: Rackham Graduate Student Research Grant, University of Michigan
- 2021: International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada
- 2019: USAID International Development Research Grant
- 2016: Open Society Institute Civil Society Scholar Grant
These grants have enabled me to explore survey response behavior and develop innovative methodologies for improving data quality.
Conference Presentations
I actively present my research at major academic conferences, including:
Current Innovations in Probability-based Household Internet Panel Research (CIPHER)
- 2025 - Washington, DC
American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR)
- 2024 – Atlanta, GA
- 2023 – Philadelphia, PA
Midwest Association for Public Opinion Research (MAPOR)
- 2024, 2023, 2022 – Chicago, IL
Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM)
- 2024 – Portland, OR
- 2023 – Toronto, Canada