| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Conduct surveys and collect data, using methods such as interviews, questionnaires, focus groups, market analysis surveys, public opinion polls, literature reviews, and file reviews. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Prepare and present summaries and analyses of survey data, including tables, graphs, and fact sheets that describe survey techniques and results. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Consult with clients to identify survey needs and specific requirements, such as special samples. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Determine and specify details of survey projects, including sources of information, procedures to be used, and the design of survey instruments and materials. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Support, plan, and coordinate operations for single or multiple surveys. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Monitor and evaluate survey progress and performance, using sample disposition reports and response rate calculations. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Collaborate with other researchers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of surveys. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Conduct research to gather information about survey topics. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Direct and review the work of staff members, including survey support staff and interviewers who gather survey data. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Direct updates and changes in survey implementation and methods. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Produce documentation of the questionnaire development process, data collection methods, sampling designs, and decisions related to sample statistical weighting. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Analyze data from surveys, old records, or case studies, using statistical software. |
| Importance: 96 (%) | Description: Review, classify, and record survey data in preparation for computer analysis. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Write proposals to win new projects. |
| Importance: 92 (%) | Description: Write training manuals to be used by survey interviewers. |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Hire and train recruiters and data collectors. |
Master Degree Careers and Jobs
Explore Careers and Jobs Predominantly Filled by Those with a Master's Degree with or without Certificates - All On One Page
Sorted by median annual U.S. salary and including percentage of job holders with Master's Degree.
A master's degree deepens expertise and often unlocks specialized, supervisory, or higher-paying roles beyond a bachelor's degree. For people weighing whether advanced study will meaningfully expand their career options. Compare careers ranked by salary, review degree-holder and experience percentages, and access preparation resources for each role.
Here is a short Helper Video
.
This page will take you through 4 steps, relative to an Doctorate Degree, to (1) Select a career, (2) Find active job listings, (3) Prepare for the career you chose, and (4) Provide web resources specific to the career you chose.
Step 1: Select a Career: You will be presented with a listing of Doctorate Degree careers. The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of careers below
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover careers that might be of interest.
Once you have identified a career of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the career you selected. Information includes core and supplemental duties, general and specific work activities, knowledge required, essential and transferable skills required, day-in-the-life summaries, knowledge required, software skills required, preparation required, educational requirements, training and work experience required, local salary information, certifications, professional associations, current job listings for the job selected along with multiple similar job titles, and related careers (related to what they do, what they know, and what they're called).
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that will provide detailed (updated) links to occupational information specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career
Leading Books About Master Degree Jobs ![]()
What jobs can you get with a Master's Degree? Scroll through the picklist (below). These are careers related to the Master's Degree level, with at least 30% of job holders having a Master's Degree. - 105 specific careers are listed, with matching jobs currently available. Select those careers that may be of interest - you will then get links to matching active job listings, and detailed resources to help you prepare.
You can use this form two ways:
1) Enter a Keyword - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the listing to those careers that contain the keyword entered
2) Browse the list (Don't enter a keyword) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover jobs that might be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title - Sorted by Annual Salary -(scroll and Select) :
Legend: Career Title Link / (% having Masters Degree) / (Median Annual U.S. Salary)
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Job Listings for: Survey Researchers.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Prepare for the "Survey Researchers" Career
The details below will provide a pathway to your specific job goal and help you to identify an appropriate career ladder.
Description: Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Survey Researchers":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
12,700U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
13,200
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
500 (4.3%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
1,200
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
| Importance: 85 (%) | Description: Communicating with People Outside the Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. |
| Importance: 76 (%) | Description: Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
| Importance: 74 (%) | Description: Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Providing Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance. |
| Importance: 67 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money. |
| Importance: 63 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork. |
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Analyze operational data to evaluate operations, processes or products. | |
| Classify organisms based on their characteristics or behavior. | |
| Collaborate on research activities with scientists or technical specialists. | |
| Collect information from people through observation, interviews, or surveys. | |
| Conduct research on social issues. | |
| Confer with clients to exchange information. | |
| Develop training materials. | |
| Direct scientific activities. | |
| Evaluate reports or designs to determine work needs. | |
| Plan social sciences research. | |
| Prepare operational reports. | |
| Prepare proposals or grant applications to obtain project funding. | |
| Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations. | |
| Record research or operational data. | |
| Supervise scientific or technical personnel. | |
| Train personnel in technical or scientific procedures. | |
| Write grant proposals. | |
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 91 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Sociology and Anthropology: Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Psychology: Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Administrative: Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Communications and Media: Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media. |
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
| Importance: 56 (%) | Description: Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Analyze data to improve operations. |
| Activity: Assist scientists, scholars, or technical specialists with projects or research. |
| Activity: Collect information about patients or clients. |
| Activity: Confer with clients to determine needs or order specifications. |
| Activity: Develop research plans or methodologies. |
| Activity: Direct scientific or technical activities. |
| Activity: Maintain operational records. |
| Activity: Prepare informational or instructional materials. |
| Activity: Prepare proposals or grant applications. |
| Activity: Prepare reports of operational or procedural activities. |
| Activity: Present research or technical information. |
| Activity: Read documents or materials to inform work processes. |
| Activity: Research biological or ecological phenomena. |
| Activity: Research historical or social issues. |
| Activity: Supervise personnel activities. |
| Activity: Train others on operational or work procedures. |
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
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| High-Priority Tech Skills | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IBM SPSS Statistics SAS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Object or component oriented development software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Python R | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Office suite software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Office software | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presentation software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft PowerPoint | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Excel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Widely Used Tech Skills | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| REDCap Research Electronic Data Capture StataCorp Stata | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project management software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Qualtrics Insight | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Emerging Tech Skills | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The MathWorks MATLAB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Business intelligence and data analysis software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tableau | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Access Structured query language SQL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise application integration software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Extensible markup language XML | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Enterprise resource planning ERP software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oracle PeopleSoft | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Object or component oriented development software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C++ Oracle Java Perl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project management software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Project Microsoft Teams | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Video conferencing software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zoom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Web platform development software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| JavaScript Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Word processing software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft Word | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General Software Tools | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software (scroll table below): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer relationship management CRM software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sales force automation software | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software (scroll table below): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Data mining software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salford Systems CART | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Desktop publishing software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EZ Forms Sawtooth SSI Web | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Document management software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Verity TELEform | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Email software | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expert system software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acarda CallAssist Computer assisted telephone interviewing CATI software | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics or photo imaging software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CfMC COSI Graphics software | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interactive voice response software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CfMC SoundSurvent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Internet browser software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Web browser software | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Map creation software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Postal boundary mapping software | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical character reader OCR or scanning software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pulse Train Bellview Scan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Presentation software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMCON DataFriend DATAN Merlin Fastab Pulse Train Pulser Web QPSMR Limited Reflect | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Project management software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Perseus SurveySolutions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Video conferencing software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FaceTime | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Web page creation and editing software: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adobe ColdFusion Pulse Train Bellview Web |
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed |
| Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job. |
| Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). |
| Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training. |
| These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, physician assistants, and veterinarians. |
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 50.0 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 38.5 (%) | Level of Education: Master's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 3.9 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Master's Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master's degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level. |
| Frequency of Attainment: 3.9 (%) | Level of Education: First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. |
| Frequency of Attainment: 3.9 (%) | Level of Education: Doctoral Degree |
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 40.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 28.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 20.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year |
| Frequency of Attainment: 8.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 4.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years |
| Professional Associations These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities? |
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American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) | |
|
Qualitative Research Consultants Association (QRCA) | |
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated)
This section contains detailed resources appropriate to "Survey Researchers". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Survey Researchers
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
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