Master-class October 2022: The Art of Survey Writing: Online

This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to develop the survey instruments needed for data-driven decision making and advice. It is also designed to help provide an understanding of how large survey projects are run for political campaigns and academic studies.

 

This course is being held online via Zoom and run on Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC +11)

 

 

 

Dates: 
Monday, October 10, 2022 - Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Early bird cutoff date: 
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Course details:

Taught by instructors with real-world experience as campaign consultants, survey researchers and data scientists, this masterclass will focus on teaching you about survey design. You will be shown how political survey research works, and sometimes doesn’t, how technology and social trends are changing survey research, and the best ways to write effective survey questions.

 

This course will be run over 2 days in three sessions per day:

 

  • 10.00 am - 11.30 am - Session 1
  • 12.00 pm - 1.30 pm - Session 2
  • 2.30 pm - 4.00 pm - Session 3

 

This course is being held online via Zoom and run on Australian Eastern Daylight Time (UTC +11)

(Canberra, Sydney, Melboure, Hobart Daylight Savings time)

 

 

This course is now full.

Please leave your name on the waiting list and if a place becomes available we will contact you.

 

 
Master Class - runs over 2 days
Instructor: 

Dr Shaun Ratcliff is a political scientist, survey researcher and applied data scientist.

He is the Principal at Accent Research, where he works with clients on complex social and political research, studying how the public thinks and behaves, what influences their beliefs and actions, and ways to engage with them.

He was previously Director of Data Science at YouGov, and before that, a Lecturer at the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney where he remains an Honorary Associate and continues to teach data science.

He has a PhD in Political Science from Monash University.

Course dates: Monday 10 October 2022 - Tuesday 11 October 2022
Course status: Course completed (no new applicants)
Venue: 
Online
Week: 
Week 1
About this course: 

We are in the middle of a data revolution. Research and decision-making in the private, not for profit and public sectors are not immune from these trends, and have become increasingly data-driven.

 

Data collection is a significant part of this, and the use of surveys has become increasingly important to gather information on public opinion and consumer behaviour. However, there have been some high profile misses in recent years: the 2016 US Presidential election and Brexit being the most significant of these. What caused these errors, and can good survey design save us from making the same mistakes?

 

Taught by an instructor with real-world experience as a campaign consultant, survey researcher and data scientist, this masterclass will focus on teaching you about survey design.

 

We will explore how surveys can be effectively used to collect data for research, target campaigns and messaging, or design policy. You will be shown how modern survey research works, and sometimes doesn’t, how technology and social trends are changing survey research, and the best ways to write effective survey questions. It will provide you with the knowledge and skills to develop the survey instruments needed for data-driven research, decision making and advice.

 

Course syllabus: 

Day 1

    1. a) Introductions b) The anatomy of a survey (mode, sample and uses)
    2. What makes a good survey question?
    3. Reducing measurement error (from respondents and your survey design)

 

Day 2

    1. Data^2: matching survey data to other information, and ethical concerns
    2. The art of survey writing: questionnaire develpoment and design
    3. a) problems facing survey research, and some solutions b) conclusion

Course format: 

This workshop will take place online ‘live’ via zoom.

There are no specific software prerequisites, just email, a web browser and a word processor

Recommended Background: 

No Prerequisites needed.

 

Recommended Texts: 

Some light reading will be provided before the course begins.

Course fees
Member: 
$1,480
Non Member: 
$2,280
Full time student Member: 
$1,280
Participant feedback: 

Great in-depth coverage of survey design and related concepts, applicable to a range of disciplines

 

Small classes and the ability to ask questions as well as drop comments in the zoom chat during the course was very helpful.

 

The online format was great, largely due to Shaun's presentation style.

 

The first day was pitched at exactly the right level for me. I have some survey design experience, but no technical training, so it crystallised some of what I knew, and introduced some new knowledge. The second day was a bit faster and territory I was less familiar with, but it was still a useful overview and I can now do a bit more of my own research when it
becomes relevant for my work.

 

Supported by: 

 

 

Venues: 

Delivery of this course is online - via Zoom.

 

Please ensure you have the following:

  • Reliable Internet connection with at least 5Gb per day of data available (i.e. a 5 day course will use about 25Gb of data just on the Zoom application)
  • A computer/laptop with the Zoom application installed (free)
  • A webcam (built in to most laptops)
  • A headset with a microphone (not required but ideal)
  • A second monitor/screen if possible

 

Please also check the course page for specific software requirements (if any).

 

Venue and Timetable: 

You will be attending from home, and each course may specify a slightly different timing schedule. Please expect around 4 "contact" hours per day, with the remainder of the usual working day for exercises, group work and self-directed activities.

All times specified are in Australian Eastern Time (Melbourne/Sydney/Canberra time)