Mixed-Mode and Mixed-Device Surveys
calendar_month 29 Iul 2015, 00:00
Currently, a large variety of data modes such as telephone interview, personal interview, mail or web (PC, tablet, mobile) survey are available for social surveys, which leads to methodological questions, such as, which mode or online device is best? Each mode has its advantages and disadvantages; each mode also makes different logistical demands. Sometimes the choice for a particular data collection is easy and straightforward. But often the situation is more complex and one single mode will not suffice. Therefore multiple modes of data collection or mixed modes have become more and more popular in survey practice.Respondents complete online surveys on a range of different devices: regular desktop PC, tablets and mobile phones. As a researcher, you never know in advance on what device the respondent is going to complete your survey. Each device introduces some kind of selection and measurement bias. You need to take this into account when doing surveys online.In this course, we give an overview on the current state of the art in designing, implementing, and evaluating mixed-mode and mixed-device surveys. In the first part of the course, we address the major variants of mixed-mode data collection designs, issues in mixed-mode and mixed-device questionnaire design, and management of mixed-mode projects. In the second part, we discuss issues in the analysis of mixed-mode surveys, going from an introduction to more advanced statistical techniques. The objective is to provide the participants with a thorough background on mixed-mode and mixed-device methodology and with an empirical knowledge base on the implications of mixed-mode for questionnaire design, total survey error and logistics.

Course leader
Asst. Prof. Dr. Vera Toepoel, Prof. Dr. Edith de Leeuw, Dr. Thomas Klausch

Target group
Participants will find the course useful if they:- are considering doing mixed-mode research in the future and would like to find out whether this would be a suitable approach;- are planning to use mixed-mode in their research and would like some input on how to do this;- have used mixed-mode in their research and would like some feedback;- think about adding another mode to their web survey to improve data quality, e.g. representativeness;- have concerns with mixed-device surveys, e.g. the fact that respondents to web surveys can complete their surveys on different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile phone);- are interested in mobile surveys (surveys conducted via mobile phones);- have started on mixed-mode research and are unsure about their data analysis or other elements.Prerequisites:- participants should have basic knowledge about survey methodology and statistics (e.g. analysis of variance and regression analyses);- basic knowledge of survey methodology could be gained in the course "Introduction to Survey Design");- participants can submit a two-page summary of their current research project to the instructors before July 14th 2015 or else inform the instructors that they are not bringing a specific project to the course.

Course aim
By the end of the course participants will:- be familiar with the current discussion surrounding mixed-mode/device surveys;- be familiar with common reasons underlying the choice of mixed-mode research;- have gained an overview of different mixed-mode designs and strategies for mixing;- know the advantages and disadvantages of different modes;- be able to select suitable design elements for their own research;- be able to analyze mixed-mode/device surveys;- be able to make an informed judgment about mixed-mode or mixed-device surveys.



Credits info
4 ECTS - Certificate of attendance issued upon completion.Optional bookings:- 2 ECTS points via the University of Mannheim for regular attendance and satisfactory work on daily assignments (EUR 20).- 4 ECTS points via the University of Mannheim for regular attendance and satisfactory work on daily assignments and for submitting a paper/report of about 5000 words to the lecturer(s) up to 4 weeks after the end of the summer school (EUR 50).

Fee info
EUR 250: Student/PhD student rate. EUR 350: Academic/non-profit rate.Early bird discount: EUR 50 for applicants who book and pay by April 30.The rates include the tuition fee, course materials, the academic program, access to library and IT facilities, coffee/tea, and a number of social activities.

Scholarships
10 DAAD scholarships are available via the Center for Doctoral Studies in Social and Behavioral Sciences (CDSS) at the University of Mannheim.

GESIS-Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences
Address: Knowledge Transfer, Unter Sachsenhausen 6-8 Cologne
Postal code: 50667
City: Cologne
Country: Germany
Website: http://www.gesis.org/summerschool
E-mail: summerschool@gesis.org
Phone: +49-221-476940