Graduate Certificate in Survey Research Methods

Overview

A large number of sample surveys are conducted or sponsored by government agencies, research centres and businesses to provide evidence in social, market, business and health research.

The University of Wollongong’s Centre for Statistical and Survey Methodology (CSSM) has teamed up with the Sydney Business School (SBS) to provide a program in Survey Research Methods. CSSM is a centre of excellence in survey methodology and has links with agencies, businesses and research centres in Australia and overseas. The SBS is a well-established centre of professional and executive development and has extensive experience in delivery of programs tailored to the needs of professionals.

The Graduate Program in Survey Research Methods will provide up-to-date and high quality education in survey methodology and research and the foundations for the development of professionals in survey methodology and research. This program will suit a wide variety of careers involving developing, conducting or analysing survey data.

The Graduate Certificate in Survey Research Methods will equip students with fundamental skills required to develop, conduct and analyse survey data and research. The Master of Survey Research Methods allows students to extend their knowledge and skills to a more advanced level and undertake a practical research project.

Entry Requirement

Course Delivery

Duration

Location

Fees

Contact Details

Program Structure

The Graduate Certificate consists of 4 core subjects. Each subject will involve 35 hours contact spread over 5 days in a session, with assignments and assessment.

Introduction to Research Design and Analysis for Surveys
Quantitative research design: Types of quantitative research-experiments, surveys, observational studies, panel and longitudinal designs, case control studies. Steps in survey process. Introduction to total survey error. Overview of quantitative data analysis. Mixed methods approach.
Qualitative research design: Qualitative research strategies-case studies, ethnography, action research, and grounded theory. Data collection methods: focus groups, in-depth interviews, observation, and documents. Qualitative research data analysis.

Statistical and Data Collection Methods for Surveys
Introduction to statistical methods: Inference for single samples; comparison of multiple samples; analysis of variance; linear regression and correlation; contingency tables, logistic regression. Use of a relevant statistical package.
Data collection methods: Sample frames. Sources of error and total survey error. Options: face-to-face, telephone, mail, internet and on-line methods, diaries, administrative records.

Survey Methods
Data quality: Sources of error in surveys, total survey error. Introduction to measuring and reducing nonresponse and missing data. Imputation.
Instrument design and testing: Question wording. Form design principles. Cognitive aspect of surveys and cognitive testing. Testing and evaluation of questionnaires. Relationship with data collection mode.

Sample Design and Estimation
Sampling methods: Populations and sampling frames. Simple random sampling, stratification, probability proportional to size sampling, cluster and multistage sampling.
Survey estimation and analysis: Weighting, ratio estimation, post-stratification and generalised regression. Variance estimation, standard errors and confidence intervals. Use of a relevant statistical package.