1. The Survey Process: The Basics of Survey Design
January 21, 2011

2. Objectives By the end of this meeting, you should be able to:
Explain the relevant considerations when designing a survey.

3. Starting a Survey
When one creates a survey it is important to think about how the survey will be used.
If you are creating a survey under a contract, such as a political pollster, the reason for the survey is likely spelled out in advance
If you are creating a survey as an academic, the reasons may be entirely your own

4. Key Concepts Statement of Objectives Hypothesis/Hypotheses
What do you want to study?
Why do you want to study it?
Hypothesis/Hypotheses
Operationalization of Concepts *very important*
Alternative Explanations
Inductive versus Deductive Theory
Deductive- hypothesis leads to theory to tests
Inductive- observing relationships directly

5. Designing a Survey What population do you want to study?
Young people (18-30)?
Homosexuals?
Retirees?
Students?
Who should be interviewed?
Voters? Likely voters? Possible voters? Eligible voters?
High school students? High school dropouts? Private school students?

6. Designing a Survey Are repeat interviews necessary?
Do you want a snapshot or to view change over time?
How should the data be collected?
Self-reported versus direct observation
Orally? Written?
How hard do you try to find non-responses?

7. For Next Time:
Read WKB Chapter 3
Turn-in answers for questions 1, 4, & 6 from pp