Web Survey Design

Description:

Introduction/Overview

Web surveys are a popular method of data collection. But there are both advantages and hidden pitfalls to this methodology. This course looks at the questionnaire design features of the web survey. This covers question wording, format and visual issues, the structure of the questionnaire as a whole, and what is needed for good web surveys on mobile phones. All of this is shown with examples from actual web survey software. The course also gives tips on creating your sample, improving response rates and the “push to web” methodology. The course is full of practical advice as well as recommendations from research on web surveys.

Course objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Feel more confident about web survey questionnaire design in general and for all devices
• Be aware of which features of web survey software are useful, and which are not
• Better understand ways to test web surveys, maximise web take up in mixed mode designs, ways to create a sample and improve response rates

Topics

This course covers:

Designing the web survey questionnaire with examples from web survey software

• Tips on everything from the welcome page to the thank you at end
• Question wording and visual layout guidelines
• Questionnaire design issues and how these interact with software –- don’t just rely on suggested templates
• What web surveys can do, but should we? (matrix of drop down boxes, randomisation, requiring answers, images, etc.)
• Dealing with mobile devices and how software has changed
• Ways to test your web survey

Tips on implementing your web survey

• Some recommendations on creating your sample and improving response rates
• Maximising web take up in mixed mode surveys (“push to web”)

Who will benefit

Anyone wanting to create a new web survey, improving an existing one or to better understand the pitfalls of web survey creation. It is helpful for attendees to have a basic familiarity with surveys in general.

Course tutor

Dr Pamela Campanelli is a Survey Methods Consultant and runs The Survey Coach business. She is also a Chartered Statistician and Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. She has worked at the University of Michigan, the U.S. Bureau of the Census, ISER at the University of Essex, and NatCen Social Research. She has both led and been a team member on ESRC grants (one on survey nonresponse and one on measurement error in mixed mode surveys). She regularly teaches short courses in the UK and abroad for government departments, survey research companies, universities, as well as for various other institutions and businesses.

This course contributes 6 hours to the MRS CPD programme

n.b. This course runs over two consecutive mornings:

Part 1 - 17 June - 12:30 pm to 16:45 pm

Part 2 - 18 June - 12:30 pm to 16:45 pm

Cost:

£180 for SRA members, £235 for non-members

Website and registration:

Register for this course

Region:

International

Keywords:

Frameworks for Research and Research Designs, Data Collection, Data Quality and Data Management , Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis, Quantitative Data Handling and Data Analysis, Mixed Methods Data Handling and Data Analysis, ICT and Software, Research Management and Impact, Research Skills, Communication and Dissemination

Related publications and presentations from our eprints archive:

Frameworks for Research and Research Designs
Data Collection
Data Quality and Data Management
Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis
Quantitative Data Handling and Data Analysis
Mixed Methods Data Handling and Data Analysis
ICT and Software
Research Management and Impact
Research Skills, Communication and Dissemination

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