Introduction to Survey Research Techniques

November 14-18, 2011 Institute for Social and Environmental Research-Nepal Fulbari, Chitwan, Nepal
Duration: 40 hours (5 days) Pre-requisite: A minimum requirement of Baccalaureate Degree. Background in social science research will be an asset. Course Description This course focuses on the theory and practice of survey research methods and techniques. In general, the training will cover the following topics research process, social research methods, survey research designs, survey lifecycle, survey errors, cost/quality trade-off, formulation of research question and hypothesis, conceptualization and measurement, sampling, questionnaire design and evaluation, techniques of interviewing, data processing, data preparation, coding, cleaning and management of data, analysis and publication of research findings and research ethics. Emphasis will be given to hands-on experience in conducting each phase of survey lifecycle. Goals 1. To provide an overview of Survey research methods and techniques. 2. To provide a framework for conceptualizing, designing, and evaluating survey instruments. 3. To provide familiarity with a range of survey data collection and data analysis techniques including writing a research report. Resource Persons Dr. Dirgha Ghimire, Associate Research Scientist, Population Studies Center, University of Michigan; Executive Director, Institute for Social and Environmental Research-Nepal (ISER-N), Fulbari, Chitwan Dr. Prem Bhandari, Assistant Research Scientist, Population Studies Center, University of Michigan Ms. Indra Chaudhary, Study Manager, ISER-N, Fulbari, Chitwan Mr. Bishnu Adhikari, Database Manager, ISER-N, Fulbari, Chitwan
Readings Alford, Robert R. 1998. The Craft of Inquiry: Theories, Methods, Evidence. New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Axinn, William G., Lisa D. Pearce and Dirgha J. Ghimire. 1999. Innovations in Life History Calendar Applications. Social Science Research 28(3):243-264. Axinn, W. G and Lisa Pearce. 2006. Mixed Method Data Collection Strategies. USA: Cambridge University Press. Babbie, Earl. 1990. Survey Research Methods. Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing Company, Inc. Bernard, H. Russel. 2000. Social Research Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi. Sage Publications, Inc. Biemer, P. 2010. Total Survey Error: Design, Implementation, and Evaluation. Public Opinion Quarterly, 74(5), 817848. Dillman, Don A., Jolene D. Smyth and Leah Melani Christian. 2009. Internet, Mail, and Mixed-Mode Surveys: The Tailored Design Method. Third Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Fink, Arlene. 2009. How to Conduct Surveys: A Step by Step Guide. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC: Sage Publications. Fink, Arlene. 2003. The Survey Kit (Numbers 1-9). Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage Publications. Ghimire, Dirgha J., Stephanie Chardoul, Ronald C. Kessler, William G. Axinn and Bishnu Adhikari. In Press. Modifying and Validating the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) for Nepal. International Journal of Psychiatric Research. Groves, Robert M and Lars Lyberg. 2010. Total Survey Error: Past, Present, and Future. Public Opinion Quarterly, 74(5), 849879. Groves, Robert M., Floyd J. Fowler, Jr., Mick P. Couper, James M. Lepkowski, Eleanor Singer, and Roger Tourangean. 2010. Survey Methodology. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Singleton, Royce A. Jr., and Bruce C. Straits. 2005. Approaches to Social Research. 4 th Edition. New York: Oxford University Press. Wallace, Walter. 1971. The Logic of Science in Sociology. Chicago, New York: Aldina, Atherton. Weinberg, Eve. 1983. Data Collection: Planning and Management. In Peter H. Rossi, James D. Wright and Andy B. Anderson (Eds.), Handbook of Survey Research. San Diego, New York, Berkeley, Boston, London, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto: Academic Press, Inc.

SCHEDULE & ASSIGNED READINGS Introduction to Survey Research Techniques November 14-18, 2011 Institute for Social and Environmental Research-Nepal Fulbari, Chitwan. Nepal
Day and Time Day 1 (Nov 14) 07:30 08:00-08:30 08:30-10:00 Activity/Topics Lead Person(s) Readings (Required) Remarks (Readings below are recommended) Distribution of course outline/ course pack

10:00-10:15 10:15-11:00

Trainee depart from the Hotel to ISER-N Campus in Fulbari, Chitwan Registration and Breakfast Welcome and introductions Overview of the workshop Introduction to ISER-N Briefing on course pack Tea /Coffee Theory vs. Method vs. Research

-Krishna -Krishna -Dirgha/Binoj -Prem -Dirgha -Bishnu/Prem -Dirgha -Alford (Ch 1-2)

ISER-N Office Tour -Wallace (Ch 1)

11:00-12:00

12:00-13:00 13:00-14:00 14:00-15.00 15:0015:15 15:1516:45

An Overview of Social Science Research Methods Survey Research as a Method of Social Science Research Lunch An Introduction to Survey Research Survey Research Process and Survey Lifecycle Tea /Coffee Basic Survey Designs -Description, explanation and exploration -Quasi- and true experiments -Cross-sectional vs. longitudinal surveys -Case control design Overview of Day 1

-Prem

-Babbie (Ch 3)

-Babbie (Ch 1-2)

-Prem -Dirgha

-Groves et al. (Ch 1) -Groves et al. (Ch 2 Pp39-67)

-Fink 2009 (Ch 1) -Singleton and Straits (Ch 4 Pp 107-114)

-Prem

-Fink 2009 (Ch 5) -Babbie (Ch 4)

16:45-17:00

Day 2 (Nov 15) Time Activity/Topics 08:30-08:45 08:45-10:00 10:00-10:15 10:15-12:00 -Review of Day 1 Survey Error and Survey Costs Tea/Coffee Measurement Issues *Measurement *Reliability and validity Lunch Sample Design and Sampling Error *Concepts *Basic sampling designs *Errors (Sampling error and coverage error) Tea/Coffee Sample Design and Sampling Error.contd Overview of Day 2

Lead Person(s) -Dirgha/Prem -Dirgha

Readings (Required)

Remarks (Readings below are recommended) -Groves and Lyberg 2010

-Biemer

-Prem

-Singleton and Straits (Ch 5)

Task (measurement, reliability and validity)

12:00-13:00 13:00-15:00

-Prem

-Fink 2009 (Ch 4)

-Groves et al. (Ch 4) -Discuss errors with examples

15:00-15:15 15:15-16:45 16:45-17:00

-Prem -Prem

Sampling exercise

Day 3 (Nov 16) Time Activity/Topics 08:30-08:45 08:45-10:45 Overview of Day 2 Fitting Data Collection Methods to Research Aims *Alternative methods *Choosing the appropriate method *Data collection methods and survey errors *Mixed method data collection Tea/Coffee Survey Instrument Design

Lead Person(s) -Prem -Dirgha

Readings (Required)

Remarks (Readings below are recommended)

-Axinn and Pearce (Ch 2)

-Groves et al. (Ch 5) -Discuss survey errors associated with each method of data collection

10:45-11:00 11:00-12:00

-Dirgha

-Singleton and Straits (Ch 9) -Axinn, Pearce and Ghimire 1999

12:00-13:00 13:00-14:00

Lunch Questionnaire Design *Principles of writing questions *Question types Questionnaire Design **Evaluation of survey questions Tea/Coffee Questionnaire writing exercise Overview of Day 3

-Prem

-Dillman (Ch 4, 5)

14:00-15:00

-Dirgha

-Groves et al. (Ch 8)

Ghimire et al. in press

15:00-15:15 15:15-16:45 16:45-17:00

-Prem/Bishnu

Day 4 (Nov 17) Time 08:30-08:45 08:45-10:00

Activity/Topics -Review of Day 3 General Interviewing Techniques

Lead Person(s) -Prem -Prem/Indra

Readings (Required)

Remarks (Readings below are recommended)

-Groves et al. (Ch 9 Pp 291-312)

-Bernard (Pp 189-219) -Groves et al. (Ch 7 Pp 225257)

10:00-10:15 10:15-12:00

Tea/Coffee Data Collection Supervision and Management -Prem/Indra -Weinberg (Chap 9) -Groves et al. (Ch 9 Pp 315-321)

12:00-13:00 13:00-14:00

Lunch Data Processing/Cleaning/Entry -Prem/Bishnu -Groves et al. (Ch 10) -Codebooks -Protocols -Data entry demo Use of SPSS or SAS for data analysis

14:00-15:00

15:00-15:15 15:15-16:45

Survey Data Analysis -Brief overview of data analysis (descriptive/bivariate/multivariate) Tea/Coffee Survey Data Analysis -Hands on data analysis (descriptive/bivariate/multivariate) Overview of Day 4

-Prem

-Babbie Ch 16 -Fink 2009 (Pp 77-98)

-Prem

-Exercise -ISER- N Data

16:45-17:00

Day 5 (Nov 18) Time Activity/Topics 08:30-8:45 08:45-10:00 10:00-10:15 10:15-12:00 12:00-13:00 13:00-15:00 15:00-15:15 15:15-15:30 15:30-17:00 -Review of Day 4 Writing and Publication Tea/Coffee Research Ethics Lunch *********Presentations******** Tea/Coffee Training Evaluation/Exploration Closing

Lead Person(s) -Prem -Dirgha

Readings (Required)

Remarks (Readings below are recommended)

-Singleton and Straits (Ch 17)

-Prem

-Groves et al. Ch 11

-Prem

-Bishnu -Dirgha

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