Level: Foundation (F)

This course looks at each of the main steps in having a successful quantitative survey. Drawing on both practical experience and research findings from survey experiments, this course is full of insightful and pragmatic advice.

Course Outline

The course covers:

• An overview of survey design (including types of survey designs, project management, time-tabling and budgeting) (with DISCUSSION)
• Ethical considerations (with WORKSHOP)
• Mode of data collection differences (including appendix on how respondents answer differently between interview-administered and web surveys)
• Mixed mode and ‘push to web’ designs
• What to look for in a good sample design (types of probability and non-probability samples, internet panels, confidence intervals and 7 considerations for sample size)
• Key principles of questionnaire design (for individual questions and the questionnaire as a whole) (with two WORKSHOPS)
• Appendix on why demographic questions are the most difficult to write
• Appendix on various ways to test your questionnaire even with little time or budget
• Understanding response rates and nonresponse bias; ways to minimise nonresponse/nonresponse bias during fieldwork
• An overview of coding open-ended questions (with WORKSHOP) and other data processing steps
• Introduction to basic weighting (with WORKSHOP)
• Appendix with more complex weighting issues and imputation
• Highlights on what makes a good survey report

The course does not cover:

• Analysis of survey data as this is covered by other RSS courses 

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

• Have a better awareness of the key aspects involved in the creation and implementation of a quantitative survey

• Be able to critique aspects of existing surveys

• Have knowledge to conduct or improve the quality of their own surveys

 

Knowledge Assumed

It is helpful, but not required, that participants have a basic understanding of producing surveys/doing research. For the sampling part of the course, it is useful for participants to have some familiarity with basic statistical concepts such as normal distribution, mean, standard deviation and standard error.

Dr. Pamela Campanelli

Dr. Campanelli is a survey methods specialist, chartered statistician, fellow of the academy of social sciences and an international trainer, researcher and consultant who runs her own business, ‘The Survey Coach’. Her background is in social statistics, survey methodology, and psychology. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, she worked at the University of Michigan, US Census Bureau, ISER at the University of Essex, and was a Research Director at NatCen Social Research. She has taught courses around the world for government departments, universities, and other organisations. She believes in delivering courses that are lively and engaging.

Fees		Registration before  15 June 2025	Registration on/after  15 June 2025
Non Member  RSS Fellow  RSS CStat/Gradstat/Data Analyst  also MIS & FIS		£694.00+vat  £590.00+vat  £556.00+vat	£772.00+vat  £655.00+vat  £616.00+vat
Group discounts are also available*: 3-5 people 6-8 people 9+ people *Discount only applies to non-member price		10% discount 15% discount 20% discount