The social survey is a core methodology in the social sciences. Surveys allow researchers to track social values, behaviour, attitudes, and norms between groups and over time. Graduate students, early career academic researchers, researchers in the public and private sector, and managers/commissioners of research are increasingly dealing with surveys, whether as consumers, users or producers of research. This course focuses on data collection, questionnaire design, and data analysis in survey research. Lectures and practical seminars cover basic ideas of target populations, survey estimation and inference, sampling error and non-sampling error; sample design and sampling theory; methods of data collection; survey interviewing; cognitive processes in answering survey questions; design and evaluation of survey questions; analysis of survey data using regression modelling and latent variable modelling; and accessing, preparing and working with secondary data from existing social surveys.

Period
18-08-2014 - 29-08-2014 (2 weeks)

Target group
This course is ideal for advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, early career academic researchers, and researchers in the public and private sector.

Course aim
This course aims to give students a comprehensive understanding of the full survey research process. Whether as a user, consumer or producer of research, participants will be able to assess the quality of existing surveys and be able to conduct their own high quality survey. Students will also gain an in-depth understanding of the different ways of conducting survey research, including face-to-face, internet, postal and telephone. The course will teach students about the fundamental links between concepts, measures and empirical data in the context of survey research, including specifying the key constructs, developing indicators of key constructs, and following principles of questionnaire design. Students will also gain experience in analysing survey data, covering regression models and factor analysis.



Credits
5.0 ECTS creditsThe decision to award credits is at the discretion of the student's home institution. Students should always check with their home institution to confirm the number of credits that can be awarded.

Course fee
GBP 1365[Convert to USD]Academic rate - available to students and staff of academic institutions. GBP 2310[Convert to USD]Standard rate

Course leader
Dr Jonathan Jackson & Dr Jouni Kuha

Scholarships
Previous students of LSE may be eligible for a 15% discount on their tuition fees.

London School of Economics
Address: Houghton Street
Postal code: WC2A 2AE
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://www.lse.ac.uk/study/summerSchools/Methods/home.aspx
E-mail: summer.methods@lse.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)20 7955 6422