Measurement Theory and Questionaire Design

Master 2020/2021

Type: Elective course (Comparative Social Research)

Area of studies: Sociology

Delivered by: School of Sociology

Where: Faculty of Social Sciences

When: 1 year, 1, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Instructors: Aigul M. Klimova

Master’s programme: Comparative Soсial Research

Language: English

ECTS credits: 5

Contact hours: 40

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The course covers the fundamental concepts of measurement theory and survey questionnaire design. We will cover the following topics: (1) total survey error paradigm, (2) validity and reliability in survey research, (3) response styles and different types of measurement error in survey questionnaires, (4) basic rules of survey questionnaire design, (5) questionnaire evaluation, (6) writing reports on cognitive interviewing pre-testing, (7) questionnaires in cross-cultural research. While completing the course does not mean that the participants will be good in designing and testing the questionnaires, however they will get more knowledge and expertise to design better questionnaires.

Learning Objectives

to design survey questionnaires and evaluate their quality

Expected Learning Outcomes

To apply survey error paradigm
To measure different types of validity
To measure different types of reliability
To evaluate quality of surveys
To design different types of questions
To know different types of measurement error and response styles in the questionnaire
To apply basic rules of the questionnaire design
To design survey questionnaire
To evaluate questionnaire
To conduct cognitive interviewing

Course Contents

Validity and reliability
Total survey error paradigm. Validity and reliability in surveys. Validity and reliability in comparative research
Questionnaire design
Different types of questions. Scales. Basic structure and basic rules in questionnaire design. Design of the questionnaire in cross-cultural studies
Evaluating survey questionnaire
Evaluation of the quality of survey questionnaire. Cognitive interviewing. Evaluating cross-cultural surveys

Assessment Elements

seminar participation
Questionnaire design
Evaluation of the questionnaire of other student
To conduct cognitive interviewing and write a report on cognitive interviewing pretesting

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (2 module)
0.3 * Questionnaire design + 0.25 * seminar participation + 0.45 * To conduct cognitive interviewing and write a report on cognitive interviewing pretesting

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Questions and answers in attitude surveys : experiments on question form, wording, and context, Schuman, H., 1996
Reliability and validity assessment, Carmines, E. G., 1979

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Survey questions : handcrafting the standardized questionnaire, Converse, J. M., 1986

Course Syllabus