Jeff Leiter is an organizational sociologist with substantial training and experience in research design and implementation. He earned his B.A. at Williams College in 1970 and his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in 1977. Michigan is a world center for survey research. Starting with his dissertation research and continuing throughout his career, Jeff has added to his survey research training and expertise from Michigan expertise in such qualitative methods as depth interviewing and observation. As he puts it, “Each method has its place, its purpose. Design the research and pick the method according to the goal and the question. Using a combination of targeted methods to reach your goal can multiply the payoff.”
Jeff has studied textile workers, elementary school children, middle school teachers, abused and neglected children, the chocolate industry, and most recently, nonprofit organizations. He has also done work on the problems of surveying organizations (as opposed to individual people). His experience has convinced him that different research methods have different strengths, so deciding what research strength the problem requires is a crucial first step.
Jeff retired from the sociology faculty at NC State University in 2014. His 36 years of teaching focused on the sociological study of work, organizations, and the economy. Whether teaching undergraduates or graduates, he always asked his students to take what they learned in the classroom out into the real world of workplaces and organizations.
In addition to his academic work, Jeff has contributed to many community endeavors, including Raleigh’s new Unified Development Ordinance and the ongoing efforts of the Triangle Labor Group. He was recently appointed to the GoTriangle Citizens Advisory Council.