Does your project contain a questionnaire or survey? Are you developing this yourself? This 2-day interactive workshop can help you to build confidence and add academic integrity to this aspect of your study.
Survey methods are commonly used in the social sciences, arts, and humanities, either as the primary form of data collection, or as part of multi-methods studies. The reliability and validity of the use of survey questions depends critically on the steps employed for the selection or development of survey questions. This workshop provides introductory training on survey methodology, focussing on how to select or develop survey questions, and the importance of selecting appropriate response formats to support high quality data analysis methods.
The organisers and presenters have practical expertise in designing, using, and analysing survey methods across a range of disciplines, including education, medicine, nursing, political sciences and psychology.
During the workshop, you will:
- Gain an understanding of how and why survey questions are written, including evaluation of issues such as comprehension and literacy, as well as participatory and inclusive methods for question development across disciplines
- Be introduced to the various response formats, including closed-ended and open-ended questions, and learn how to select the most appropriate format for your research
- Learn some useful ‘rules of thumb’ of question development
- Be introduced to methods to adapt survey questions to multimedia formats for more inclusive survey administration
- Receive an introduction to survey analysis methods
- Be given the opportunity to analyse some examples of existing survey questions
- Be given the opportunity to develop/ share some of your own survey questions, and receive real-time feedback from the workshop developers and your peers
This event is intended for PGR students who are interested in using or designing survey methodology as part of a research project. Students should be comfortable performing basic computer functions, but no previous experience of using survey methods is necessary. The organisers will provide pre-session materials that students can use a primer, prior to attending the workshop.
After the workshop you will be part of an interdisciplinary academic network of peers across Scotland who are interested in using survey methods. This network will provide you with the opportunity for future collaboration and sharing of ideas for peer-support.
Session 1: Tuesday 10 May, full day (online)
Session 2: Thursday 12 May, full day (online)