Design and Analysis of Surveys

4 days: Thursday 9 July to Tuesday 14 July, 2009.

This course covers the principles and practice of designing surveys, and the analysis of data from them. The following topics will be covered:

• Samples and populations.
• Survey methods: face-to-face interviews, mail questionnaires, phone interviews, on-line surveys.  Other methods.
• Questionnaire design: types of questions, wording and ordering; layout and length of questionnaire.  Pilot testing.
• Measurement: types of data, measurement scales, reliability.
• Sources of error in surveys: random and systematic; sampling and non-sampling error.  Sample size.
• Sampling methods: simple random sampling, stratified sampling, systematic sampling, cluster sampling, multi-stage sampling, non-probability methods.
• Non-response: its effect and how to address it.
• Sensitive questions, confidentiality.
• Data entry, coding and checking.  Multiple responses, open questions and missing responses.
• Estimation of population means, totals and proportions.  Standard errors and confidence intervals.
• Cross-tabulations of categorical data.  The chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test.
• Analysis of ordinal responses.
• Analysis of data from combinations of questions.

Course structure:

The four days are deliberately arranged so that there is a weekend break during the course. Each day will consist of four approximately equal-length sessions; the first session of the day will commence at 9:15 a.m. and the final session will end at approximately 5:00 p.m. The sessions will mix lecture presentations with practical work; tutorial help will be available.

A certificate will be provided on completion.

All participants will have access to a PC. The statistical package SPSS will be used in the course.

The course is one of the specialised courses offered by the Statistical Consulting Centre. Generally, the Centre offers the introductory course "Statistics for Research Workers" at least twice, and at least one additional, more specialised course.

Venue:

The course will be held in the Wilson Computer Laboratory in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Richard Berry Building. The Richard Berry building is well served by public transport; tram routes 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 16, 64, 67 and 72 stop just outside the building. See metlink for details, including a map.

Parking within the University grounds will not be available.

Cost:

The cost of the course is $990 (incl. $90 GST). We have a discounted rate for University of Melbourne postgraduate students of $825 (incl. $75 GST, GST does not apply if paying through your University department.) The fee includes a comprehensive set of notes, and morning and afternoon tea. Lunches are not provided.

Prerequisites:

Participants will need to have some understanding of statistics at an introductory level. For example, participants should know about hypothesis tests and confidence intervals. The course "Statistics for Research Workers" would be suitable preparation.

Course presenter:

The presenter is Dr Graham Hepworth, Consultant for the Statistical Consulting Centre and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics. Graham has had extensive experience over two decades in the area of design and analysis of surveys, in fields such as medicine, the social sciences, education and agriculture.

Enrolment package:

• External participants and University of Melbourne staff click here.
• University of Melbourne post-graduate students click here.

If you have difficulties downloading the form or any questions related to the course, click here or contact Deborah Maillardet on 8344 6995.

Please send completed enrolment forms to:
Statistical Consulting Centre
Richard Berry Building
The University of Melbourne
VIC 3010

or fax to 8344 7499.