MY456      Half Unit
Survey Methodology

This information is for the 2013/14 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Jonathan Jackson COL 8.08 and Dr Jouni Kuha COL8.02

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Social Research Methods, MSc in Statistics, MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics), MSc in Statistics (Financial Statistics) (Research) and MSc in Statistics (Research). This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

Knowledge of basic descriptive and inferential statistics, to the level of MY452 or equivalent. MY456 can also be taken in parallel with MY452L. Familiarity with notions of research design in the social sciences, to the level of MY400 or equivalent.

Course content

This course provides an introduction to the methodology of the design and analysis of social surveys. It is intended both for students who plan to design and collect their own surveys, and for those who need to understand and use data from existing large-scale surveys. Topics covered include basic ideas of target populations, survey estimation and inference, sampling error and nonsampling error; sample design and sampling theory; methods of data collection; survey interviewing; cognitive processes in answering survey questions; design and evaluation of survey questions; nonresponse error and imputation for item nonresponse; survey weights; analysis of data from complex surveys; accessing, preparing and working with secondary data from existing social surveys. The course includes computer classes, using the statistical computer package Stata; no previous knowledge of Stata is required.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the LT.

Formative coursework

Exercises from the some of the seminars and computer classes are submitted for feedback

Indicative reading

Groves, R M, Fowler, F J, Couper, M P, Lepkowski, J M, Singer, E, and
Tourangeau, R (2009). Survey Methodology (2nd ed.). Wiley.

Assessment

Exam (50%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.
Project (50%, 2500 words).

The project is a report of approximately 20 to 30 pages, including tables and figures, or approximately 2,500 words, reporting the data analysis of a given research question and data set.

Student performance results

(2011/12 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 42.9
Merit 35.7
Pass 21.4
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: Methodology

Total students 2012/13: 11

Average class size 2012/13: 3

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills

Course survey results

(2011/12 - 2012/13 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 100%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

1.9

Materials (Q2.3)

1.9

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

2

Lectures (Q2.5)

2.3

Integration (Q2.6)

2

Contact (Q2.7)

2.1

Feedback (Q2.8)

2.7

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

56.9%

Maybe

41.4%

No

1.7%