Eli McKown-Dawson

Experience

• 

  LeRoy Collins Institute

  Jan 2022 - May 2024

  Research Fellow – Public Opinion & Survey Methodology

  - Designed and fielded large-scale public opinion surveys (15,000+ respondents) nationally and at the state level using Qualtrics, ensuring methodological rigor and representative sampling.- Developed survey weighting algorithms using statewide voter registration files and large datasets (14MM+ observations), improving accuracy and representativeness.- Built predictive models of voting behavior and policy preferences using generalized linear models (GLMs), Item Response Theory (IRT), and multilevel modeling in R and Stata.- Partnered with local Supervisors of Elections to acquire public records and cast vote records (CVRs) from the 2022 midterm election in Florida.- Conducted statistical analysis on survey data to uncover trends in public opinion, producing insights on political behavior, and co-author 3+ peer-reviewed publications. Show less

• 

  YouGov

  Sept 2022 - May 2024

  - Authored 50+ survey questionnaires for national polling and experimental research, refining question wording, sampling methodology, and response validation.- Developed an archival system for survey data preservation with the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, supporting long-term accessibility and methodological transparency.- Created public-facing methodology resources for YouGov America’s website, enhancing survey transparency and data literacy for a broad audience.- Analyzed data from 35+ public opinion surveys, producing data-driven articles on elections and voting behavior that distilled complex public opinion trends into accessible insights. Show less - Collaborated with YouGov's U.S. News team to create a likely voter model, performing multivariate regression analyses and applied predictive modeling techniques in Stata and R.- Conducting pre-election and post-election polling during the 2022 U.S. elections for the Economist, CBS News, and Yahoo News YouGov surveys.- Designed and tested 100+ survey questions, supporting question validity and neutrality.- Wrote 20+ survey-based articles on American politics and voter behavior, incorporating statistical analysis and data visualization to enhance public understanding. Show less

  • Contributor – Data Journalism & Survey Methodology

    Jan 2023 - May 2024

  • Survey Data Journalist (Intern)

    Sept 2022 - Dec 2022
• 

  Silver Bulletin

  Jun 2024 - now

  Elections Analyst

  - Automated forecast updates using R, Stata, the Datawrapper API, and Docker, eliminating manual work and improving accuracy in election modeling.- Authored 15+ data-driven investigative articles on polling, survey methodology, and election forecasting, incorporating advanced data analysis and enterprise reporting on breaking election updates.- Designed and customized 40+ interactive Datawrapper visualizations, including polling averages, forecasts, and pollster ratings, ensuring consistency and clarity in data storytelling.- Manage a large-scale database of thousands of public opinion polls and economic indicators, by collecting polls in real time and scraping websites for economic data. - Administer daily updates to polling averages and predictive models, identifying and correcting anomalies using automated quality control processes.- Co-manage a Substack blog with 270,000+ subscribers, leading 5x growth in total and paid subscriptions by optimizing content strategy. Show less