About Us
Founded in 2020, by Martina Smith. Ariel Research Partners (Ariel) is a small, full-service boutique public opinion research firm and the only Black woman-owned firm of its kind in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Ariel combines the expertise and experience of a large research firm with the personal attention and tailored service of a smaller, more focused team.
Our projects are executed by experienced and skilled social and data scientists and market research analysts, specializing in complex, multi-method research across academic, community, public policy, market research, social impact, and civic engagement fields. We design instruments from simple to complex for surveys and qualitative research projects, we execute both methodologies and deliver impactful analyses.
We are committed to delivering high-quality, cost competitive actionable insights through rigorous and transparent methodologies, helping our clients make informed decisions and achieve meaningful outcomes.
Hello
Martina is an award-winning researcher and research manager with over two decades of experience, driven by a deep love for research and an appreciation for its power to inform critical decisions. She approaches her work with respect for the research process, understanding both its potential and its limitations.
Martina’s career began in academic research, exploring the displacement of Black public housing residents in mixed-income developments as well as examining the societal deference afforded to Black women. Her community-based projects include evaluating the efforts of Black residents in a historically Black Chicago neighborhood to combat gentrification. Martina has also led policy research for the Department of Labor, contributing valuable insights to shape public policy.
Before founding Ariel Research Partners, Martina managed a 14-person qualitative market research team, overseeing projects in both education (K-12 and Higher Ed) and corporate (B2B and B2C) sectors. A native of Chicago, Martina holds a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude and departmental honors in sociology from Loyola University Chicago and holds a Master of Arts and is a doctoral candidate in sociology at the University of Chicago.