Content

This course is an introduction to the principles and practice of survey design. The main contributions of the research in Survey Methodology are reviewed on the factors that affect the quality of the surveys.

This subject aims to combine the theoretical perspective with the development of applied skills to design and carry out surveys. Using the phases of the survey process as a common thread, the different sources of error will be presented following the perspective of the Total Survey Error, as well as the ways to mitigate it. . The concept of error will be used as a framework to discuss the consequences of using different methods of data collection, the coverage capacity of the sampling frames, alternative sampling designs and their impact on the standard errors of the survey statisticians, the effects of the design of the questionnaire as an instrument of measurement (impact of the order of the questions, differences in its wording, among others), the supervision systems of the field work, the role of the interviewer and the respondent, the impact of the non-response in the statistics of the survey, or the treatment and analysis of the data obtained. The design of surveys implies taking a set of decisions making an adequate balance between the research objectives, the survey errors, the economic costs, and the calendar restrictions that they entail.

 

Module 1: Basic concepts and definition of a project

1. Definition of survey

1.1 Origins of the surveys

1.2 Essential characteristics of the surveys

1.3 Strengths and weaknesses of the surveys

1.4 Types of surveys

1.5 Phases of a survey

1.6 Types of error

2. Survey methods

3. The design of the sample

3.1 Delimitation of the study universe

3.2 The sampling frame

3.3 The sample size

3.4 Probabilistic sampling

3.4.1. Simple random sampling

3.4.2. Systematic random sampling

3.4.2.Stratified random sampling

3.4.3. Random sampling by conglomerates: mono / bi / multistage

3.5 Non-probabilistic sampling

3.5.1. Sampling by installments

3.5.2. Strategic sampling or "trial"

3.5.3. Circumstantial sampling: of "volunteers", "snowball"

3.6 The sampling error (E)

3.7 The confidence interval

Module 2: Design and administration of a questionnaire

4. Definition of research objectives

4.1 Operationalization of concepts. Construction of questions

4.2 Types of variables and questions

4.3 Measurement and pretest errors

4.4 Order and presentation of the questionnaire

4.5 Test questionnaire and final drafting

5. The administration of the questionnaire

5.1 Contribution of the surveyors to the survey error

5.2 Supervision of fieldwork

5.3 Non-response errors

Mòdul3: Analysis and presentation of results

6. Data preparation

6.1 Preparing the data to work

6.2 Analysis of the data

6.2.1 Univariable exploration

6.2.2 Bivariate analysis

6.3 Data quality

6.3.1 Validity

6.3.2 Reliability

6.4 Results report

 
*Unless the requirements enforced by the health authorities demand a prioritization or reduction of these contents.