Survey Methods

This course will cover the essential components of survey design, including data collection modes, sampling, coverage errors, nonresponse, interviewer effects, questionnaire design, and ethics related to survey research. Students will also gain practical and hands-on experiences to further understand the practical aspects of the survey design process. 

The primary goal of this course is to comprehend and apply the basic components of survey design, with an emphasis on understanding the decisions and corresponding tradeoffs with respect to the design of survey questions and the quality of the data obtained. 

Upon completing this course, students will be able to:

1. Understand how survey methods fit in the user research cycle as a research toolkit. 
2. Identify various data collection modes and sampling designs
3. Recognize and distinguish between various error sources in survey process and data
4. Develop and evaluate survey questions
5. Evaluate the implications of design decisions and implementation for data quality.

• Session 1: Introduction to Survey Methodology
• Session 2: Planning & Designing Survey
• Session 3: Designing & Evaluating Survey Questions
• Session 4: From Designing Questions to Processing & Analyzing Data
• Session 5: Social Media, Big Data & Survey Methods
• Session 6: Presentation & Wrap Up