Master
2021/2022
Measurement Theory and Questionaire Design
Type:
Elective course (Comparative Social Research)
Area of studies:
Sociology
Delivered by:
School of Sociology
Where:
Faculty of Social Sciences
When:
1 year, 1-3 module
Mode of studies:
distance learning
Open to:
students of all HSE University campuses
Master’s programme:
Comparative Soсial Research
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
5
Contact hours:
18
Course Syllabus
Abstract
The course covers the fundamental concepts of measurement theory and survey questionnaire design. We will cover the following topics: (1) total survey error paradigm, (2) validity and reliability in survey research, (3) response styles and different types of measurement error in survey questionnaires, (4) basic rules of survey questionnaire design, (5) questionnaire evaluation, (6) writing reports on cognitive interviewing pre-testing, (7) questionnaires in cross-cultural research. While completing the course does not mean that the participants will be good in designing and testing the questionnaires, however they will get more knowledge and expertise to design better questionnaires. The emphasis will be put on the questionnaire design in comparative and cross-cultural perspective. The course will be based on comparative research projects such as WVS, EVS, ESS, ISSP. The questions and items on different research areas (values, attitudes, subjective well-being, national identity, socio-demographic characteristics) will be considered.
Learning Objectives
- to understand the concepts of reliability and validity, to design survey questionnaires and evaluate their quality when performing cross-cultural surveys
Expected Learning Outcomes
- To apply basic rules of the questionnaire design
- To apply survey error paradigm
- To conduct cognitive interviewing
- To design different types of questions
- To design survey questionnaire
- To evaluate quality of surveys
- To evaluate questionnaire
- To know different types of measurement error and response styles in the questionnaire
- To measure different types of reliability
- To measure different types of validity
Interim Assessment
- 2021/2022 3rd module0.3 * Online course сertificate - part 2 + 0.7 * Online course сertificate - part 1
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Norman M. Bradburn, Seymour Sudman, & Brian Wansink. (2004). Asking Questions : The Definitive Guide to Questionnaire Design —— For Market Research, Political Polls, and Social and Health Questionnaires: Vol. Rev. ed. Jossey-Bass.
- Questions and answers in attitude surveys : experiments on question form, wording, and context, Schuman, H., 1996
- Reliability and validity assessment, Carmines, E. G., 1979
- Saris, W. E. (2014). Design, Evaluation, and Analysis of Questionnaires for Survey Research (Vol. Second Edition). Hoboken: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=691292
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Kane, M. (2000). Current Concerns in Validity Theory. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED446094
- Survey questions : handcrafting the standardized questionnaire, Converse, J. M., 1986