PLSC 514
Survey Research & Data Management
Dr. Scott H. Huffmon
344 Bancroft Hall
323-4669 (x 4669 on campus)
http://faculty.winthrop.edu/huffmons/
Course Description
and Objectives
This course offers a comprehensive, hands-on examination of survey research including questionnaire construction, programming a Computer Aided Telephone Interviewing (CATI) system, sampling frames, survey methodology, caller training and supervision, data collection, and data analysis.
The course will require topical reading assignments and hands-on projects as well as written assignments examining questionnaire design, question development, survey administration, use of focus groups, sampling theory, determining required sample size, developing sampling frames, data analysis, creating final reports, and data presentation.
Working in conjunction with
Upon completion of the bi-annual poll, we will cover topics pertaining to the “cleaning” of survey data and its export to several statistical analysis packages. The student will learn how to manipulate data and created new variables from existing data in SPSS. The student will also learn basic statistical analysis techniques in SPSS.
Requirements
Journal: Each student will keep a journal (e.g. the bound black and white notebook type) in which she or he will take notes on the readings. The journals will be checked at each meeting and students are expected to have a minimum of one page of notes on each reading to be covered in that meeting. Missed readings may be made up by the next meeting for half credit.
Programming—Basic Survey: Student will work through the CATI Tutorial and create her or his own survey which must be “field ready.” That is, it must be complete and able to be implemented by the system.
Programming—Internet Survey: Student will work through the CATI Tutorial and create her or his own survey which must be “field ready.” That is, it must be complete and able to be implemented by the system.
Mid-Term: The mid-term exam will be entirely essay and cover all material prior to the exam date.
Technical Report: The student will prepare a professional report on the survey including a description of the survey suitable for a technical monograph. The report will also include descriptive graphs and tables based on the data collected in the telephone survey as well as a written analysis of the results..
Supervising: The student will be responsible for training,
scheduling, and supervising callers during the semester’s telephone poll.
Grading
|
Journal |
10% |
|
Programming--Basic Survey |
15% |
|
Programming--Internet Survey |
15% |
| Mid-Term Exam | 15% |
|
Technical Report |
20% |
|
Supervising |
25% |
The following books are required:
Rea, Louis M. and Richard A. Parker.
2005. Designing and Conducting Survey
Research: A Comprehensive Guide. 3nd Edition.
Asher, Herbert. 2004. Polling
and the Public: What Every Citizen Should Know. 6th Edition.
Fiorina, Morris P., Samuel J. Abrams, and Jeremy C. Pope. 2006. Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America. 2nd Edition. New York: Pearson Longman.
Additional readings may be assigned.
Order of
|
Asher 1; Rea & Parker 1 |
|
Asher 2; Rea & Parker 2 |
|
Asher 3; Rea & Parker 3 |
|
Asher 4; Rea & Parker 6, 8, 9 |
|
Asher 5 |
|
Fiorina all; Asher 6, 8 |
|
Asher 7 |
|
Rea & Parker 5 |
|
Rea & Parker 7 |
|
Rea & Parker 10 |
|
Rea & Parker 11 |
|
Rea & Parker 12 |