Sharan Sharma

Sharan Sharma, Ph.D., is an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Maryland, with appointments in the Department of Sociology and the Joint Program in Survey Methodology. His work focuses on cross-cultural survey methodology, interviewer effects, and paradata analysis. He leads the India Human Development Survey (IHDS3), examining migrant remittance discrepancies and survey falsification. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President at TAM India, managing large-scale surveys and organizational development.

• Education: Ph.D. in Survey Methodology (University of Michigan, 2018); M.A. in Applied Statistics (University of Michigan, 2006); M.M.S. in Management Studies (Bombay University, 1999); B.S. in Physics (Bombay University, 1997).
• Affiliations: MPRC, Sociology Department, Joint Program in Survey Methodology.

Dr. Sharma’s research bridges methodological rigor and practical applications, particularly in developing countries. His projects emphasize improving data accuracy through innovative approaches like paradata monitoring and reducing discrepancies in migrant surveys. He collaborates extensively with global institutions to enhance survey implementation frameworks.

His recent publications explore interviewer gatekeeping in India, birth history omissions, and fraud detection in audience measurement. He advocates for methodological transparency to address systemic biases in demographic research.