Survey Research Methodology

Scientific social surveys provide a substantial proportion of the data on which policy decisions in government are based. In health services research, child and family research, education, and much of social and economic statistics, the dominant data source is the survey. This course is designed to introduce participants to the key components of the survey and how to evaluate them. The field of survey methodology draws on theories and practices from several academic disciplines - sociology, psychology, statistics, mathematics, computer science, and economics. This course will introduce the set of principles that are the basis of standard practice in the field. Topics include: inference in social research; survey design; coverage, sampling, and nonresponse; questionnaire and question design; modes of data collection; interviewing; post-collection processing; scientific integrity and ethics; history of survey research; evaluation of surveys. The course will include a quarter-long project in which small groups will design a survey to tackle a real-life survey issue and present the results at the end of the quarter. Students should have taken at least one course in statistics at the level of PPHA 31000 to enroll.