Cathi Wilson is a Senior Research Consultant at Wilson Research Strategies.
Focus Cathi is an expert in a variety of modes of political communication and education research. With formal training in both quantitative and qualitative research methods and experience with political advertising research, Cathi brings a unique blend of approaches and practical experience to WRS.
Cathi also serves as practice lead for WRS’s primary and secondary education research team, which helps school districts with funding and bonding elections and with tracking of parent and community satisfaction. Cathi also works with WRS’s higher education team and specializes in helping colleges and universities improve their alumni relations and development practices.
Pertinent Background & Relationships
Provides research and strategic consulting, including survey methodologies, focus group facilitation, and strategic advertising research for both print and media, to educational institutions, from K-12 to colleges and universities.
Conducts multidisciplinary research on affective response to campaign advertisements, utilizing sociological and culturally-based frameworks to inform theories.
Performs qualitative research on the interactions and effects of various visual and aural stimuli in televised commercials.
Studies the nature of voters’ processing patterns, the efficacy of cultural cueing in constructing meaning, attitude toward the ad, the product or candidate, and behavioral intent (purchase or voting).
Provides a variety of content analyses to support data examination.
Pioneered the application of the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) to provide a deeper understanding of how viewers process televised political advertisements.
Credentials
Holds an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Missouri
25 years teaching experience at all levels, in both public and private educational settings
Is an active lecturer, writer, and editor
Is consultant to the Youth Leadership Initiative at the Center for Politics, University of Virginia
Member of Pi Kappa Lambda, the Society for Research in Music Education, and the American Association of Political Consultants
Cathi currently lives in northern Virginia and is the proud mom of three sons, one daughter, and one daughter-in-law.
The Principals at WRS have consulted with influential associations, foreign governments,
political leaders, and over 100 of the current Fortune 500 corporations.
Home
