Sociology & Anthropology

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

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Kelly N. Foster

Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of ASRL

Kelly N. Foster, PhD.  Dr. Foster is an associate professor of sociology and director of the Applied Social Research Lab (ASRL) at ETSU. Her expertise is in survey research methodology, applied sociology, and she has worked in public opinion research for 17 years. She is primarily a quantitative researcher and has both education and expertise in research methodology, including survey research, questionnaire design, health-related survey methodology, new technologies in research methodology, and statistical analysis.

In 2021 Dr. Foster was named in the inaugural class of ETSU Provost Academy Scholars where she will spend a year advancing the universities mission surrounding community engagement and outreach. Dr. Foster is passionate about community engagement and working to provide partnerships between ETSU and the larger regional community. Since coming to ETSU in 2012 she has worked with various community organizations including The United Way of Bristol TN/VA, The United Way of Greater Kingsport, Jonesborough Community Chest, the City of Johnson City, The City of Kingsport, Ballad Health, Appalachian Sustainable Development and various other community organizations in order to collect needed data for community planning, research, and evaluation efforts.

In addition to her survey research expertise, Dr. Foster is trained and experienced in qualitative research including focus group moderation, in-person interviewing, and qualitative analysis. She served 2 years on the executive council for the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR), the leading organization for survey researchers in this country, and continues to be active with the organization. She is past-president for the Southern chapter of AAPOR and has worked extensively with local and state governments on public opinion polling and citizen engagement throughout the southeast. She is a member in good standing of the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and currently serves on the executive council for the Association of Academic Survey Research Organizations (AASRO) where ASRL is a member organization.

Course Level Course Name

Undergrad

Data Analysis

Grad

  Program Evaluation

Grad

  Survey Research Methods

Grad

  Applied Data Analysis

Undergrad/Grad

  Applied Sociology

Undergrad/Grad

  Medical Sociology

Undergrad/Grad

  Health, Medicine, and Culture
 Social Media

  LinkedIn Profile

Twitter

Current Research
Broadly speaking, my research interests are in social science research methodologies and also public and community health. On the methodological side, I am particularly interested survey research methods (paying special attention to the role that new and emerging technologies play) and engaging hard to reach populations.  My interest in public health focuses on health disparities, how individuals access health information technology, and the role that social media and individuals have on family healthcare decision making. I am interested in exploring the ways in which Appalachian families in particular are influenced by technology and social media in making healthcare decisions.

 

Peer-Reviewed Publications
 

  • †2020   Bright, Candace Forbes, Kelly N. Foster, T. Andrew Joyner, and Oceane Tanny. Heritage Tourism and Historic Roadside Markers in Tennessee: An Analysis of “Just Representation” from 1988 to 2019. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. Forthcoming.

  • 2020   Salwan, Aaron, Nicholas E. Hagemeier, Fred Tudiver, Karilynn Dowling, Kelly N. Foster, Jessie Arnold, Arsham Alamian, and Robert P. Pack. Community Pharmacist Engagement in OUD Prevention and Treatment Behaviors: A Descriptive Analysis. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. Forthcoming.

 

  • 2020    Stephanie M. Mathis, Nicholas Hagemeier, Kelly N. Foster, Katie Baker & Robert P. Pack (2020) “It’s Took Over This Region”: Patient Perspectives of Prescription Drug Abuse in Appalachia. Substance Use & Misuse, 55:1, 37-47, DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2019.1654514

 

  • 2019    Daniel J. Ventricelli, Stephanie M. Mathis, Kelly N. Foster, Robert P. Pack, Fred Tudiver & Nicholas E. Hagemeier (2019) Communication Experiences of DATA-Waivered Physicians with Community Pharmacists: A Qualitative Study. Substance Use & Misuse. DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2019.1670210

 

  • 2017     Farley, Tom, Hayli Halper, Anne Carlin, Karen Emmerson, Kelly N. Foster, and Angela Fertig. Mass Media Campaign to Reduce Consumption of Sugary Drinks. American Journal of Public Health. 107(6), pp. 989–995
Selected Other Publications
 
  • 2020     Clark, Richard L., Kelly N. Foster, Benjamin Radcliff, and Samuel J. Best (eds). Polling America: An Encyclopedia of Public Opinion, 2nd Edition. Greenwood Press. August 2020.

 

  • 2020     Bright, Candace Forbes, Kelly N. Foster, and Morgan Jones Kidd. Tennesseans Mental Health Impacted from COVID-19. The Tennessee Poll. Press Release. East Tennessee State University. May June 11, 2020. 

 

  • 2020     Foster, Kelly N. Candace Forbes-Bright, Morgan Jones Kidd, and Madison Kowsky. Tennesseans See COVID-19 and the Economy As Major Concerns for the State and Are Potentially Delaying Needed Medical Care Throughout the Pandemic. The Tennessee Poll. Press Release. East Tennessee State University. May May 28, 2020. 

 

  • 2020     Foster, Kelly N., Candace Forbes Bright, Megan Quinn, and Morgan Jones Kidd. Medical Decision Making in COVID-19: A Survey of Residents of the Appalachian Highlands. Submitted to Ballad Health. Applied Social Research Laboratory, East Tennessee State University.

 

  • 2017     Baker, Joseph, Fertig, Angela, Foster, Kelly N., and Morgan Jones. #VegTogether: An Evaluation of a Campaign to Increase Vegetable Consumption in Central Louisiana. Johnson City: Applied Social Research Laboratory, East Tennessee State University. 

 

  • 2017     Foster, Kelly N. and Morgan Jones. One Kingsport: A Survey of Residents of Kingsport and Surrounding Counties. Johnson City: Applied Social Research Laboratory, East Tennessee State University.

 

  • 2016     Foster, Kelly and Morgan Jones. 2016 Study of Wage and Benefits: Manufacturing Industry Trends in Washington County, TN. Johnson City: Applied Social Research Laboratory, East Tennessee State University.

 

  • 2016     Foster, Kelly. Annual report to State of Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs. Report on all outcomes measures for the 18 programs evaluated under the Targeted Community Crime Reduction Program (TCCRP) grant (Year Three). Johnson City: Applied Social Research Laboratory, East Tennessee State University

 

  • 2014 Foster, Kelly N and Morgan Jones. United Way of Bristol TN/VA: Community Needs Assessment 2014. Johnson City: Applied Social Research Laboratory, East Tennessee State University

 

  • 2013 McCallister, Leslie, Kelly N. Foster, Stephanie Elliott and Reagan Barbee. Community & Business Surveys. Report on the Findings of the Annual Community & Business surveys conducted for the TCCRP grant. Johnson City: Applied Social Research Laboratory, East Tennessee State University

 

  • 2014. Foster, Kelly and Morgan Jones. Report on Community Findings for Expanded Services in Erwin TN. Report delivered to Erwin Utilities to determine the extent to which the community supports expanding services. Johnson City: Applied Social Research Laboratory, East Tennessee State University

 

  • 2014. Foster, Kelly. Annual report to State of Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs. Report on all outcomes measures for the 18 programs evaluated under the Targeted Community Crime Reduction Program (TCCRP) grant. Johnson City: Applied Social Research Laboratory, East Tennessee State University
  • 2009. Byers, Jacqueline, Angela R. Fertig, Kelly N. Foster and Tamar Gabunia. 2009. County Health Benefits Study. Prepared in cooperation with The National Association  of Counties. Athens: Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia.
 Memberships
 
  • American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR)
  • American Sociological Association (ASA)
  • Southern Association for Public Opinion Outreach (SAPOR)
  • Association of Academic Survey Research Organizations (AASRO)
 Service
 
  • 2020  Association for Academic Survey Research Organizations (AASRO) Membership Chair
  • 2015    American Association for Public Opinion Research. Sponsorship Subcommittee Chair
  • 2010    American Association for Public Opinion Research. Executive Council: Membership & Chapter Relations Chair
  • 2009    American Association for Public Opinion Research. Executive Council: Membership & Chapter Relations A. Chair
  • 2008    Southern Association for Public Opinion Research. Executive Council: President.
  • 2007    Southern Association for Public Opinion Research. Executive Council: Vice President
  • 2006    Southern Association for Public Opinion Research. Executive Council: Conference Chair
  • 2005    Southern Association for Public Opinion Research. Executive Council: Conference Vice-Chair