Survey Research Methods (POLS 532)

2024 Spring
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Political Science(POLS)
3
10
Mert Moral mmoral@sabanciuniv.edu,
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English
Doctoral, Master
CONF512 POLS529
Formal lecture,Seminar,On-line task/distance
Interactive,Communicative,Discussion based learning,Task based learning
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Programs\Type Required Core Elective Area Elective
Computer Science and Engineering - With Master's Degree *
Conflict Analysis and Resolution - Non Thesis *
Conflict Analysis and Resolution - With Thesis *
European Studies - Non Thesis *
European Studies - With Thesis *
Leaders for Industry Biological Sciences and Bioengineering - Non Thesis *
Leaders for Industry Industrial Engineering - Non Thesis *
Leaders for Industry Materials Science and Engineering - Non Thesis *
Leaders for Industry Mechatronics Engineering - Non Thesis *
Political Science - Non Thesis *
Political Sciences - With Bachelor's Degree *
Political Sciences - With Master's Degree *
Political Science - With Thesis *

CONTENT

This course builds on "Methods and Scope of Political Analysis" course and provides a working knowledge of the total survey approach, sampling, questionnaire design and collection and analysis of survey data.

OBJECTIVE

Surveys have long provided researchers with representative, reliable, and valid information and served as an indispensable tool for our understanding of especially public opinion and electoral behavior. The main objective of this course is to introduce advanced undergraduate and graduate students to a set of universally recognized principles that have been guiding scientific survey studies in the last decades.

Over the course of the semester, we will focus on all major stages of survey research –i.e., research question formulation, sampling, mode of data collection, questionnaire design, pilot testing, interviewing, as well as cleaning, managing, and weighting survey data, and simple hypothesis testing employing survey data. This course pays particular attention to practice as well. We will examine and evaluate several national and cross-national survey studies, and applied social science research. Moreover, students will design their own survey instruments and acquire the necessary software skills commensurate with their level to be able to examine, edit, and weight survey data and employ survey data for hypothesis testing.

Upon completion of this course, students will be equipped with the fundamental skills to design, carry out, and evaluate survey studies and have a thorough understanding of the scientific methods used to collect survey data, and advantages, limitations, and all major stages of survey research.

No prior experience or course work in survey methodology is required for this course. However, many course topics are technical and may require further explanation. Moreover, survey research includes elements of both art and science. While traditional lectures and assigned materials will cover the scientific nature of survey research, the art part requires getting your hands dirty. Hence, both undergraduate and graduate students will be asked to design their own survey instruments. Other course requirements consist of a take-home midterm and a final examination, four short assignments, participation in in-class and online discussions, and attendance for undergraduate students; a take-home midterm exam, four short assignments, attendance and participation in in-class and online discussions, and a final research paper for graduate students.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Understand the use of survey methods for scientific research on public opinion and electoral behavior.
  • Identify their sources and extent, and reduce bias and error in survey studies.
  • Learn best practices in collecting survey data.
  • Evaluate the quality of survey studies in terms of sampling, interviewing procedures, and questionnaire design.
  • Organize survey data, report descriptive statistics, and test a bivariate hypothesis.

PROGRAMME OUTCOMES

1. Develop and deepen the current and advanced knowledge in the field with original thought and/or research and come up with innovative definitions based on Master's degree qualifications 5

2. Conceive the interdisciplinary interaction which the field is related with ; come up with original solutions by using knowledge requiring proficiency on analysis, synthesis and assessment of new and complex ideas. 5

3. Evaluate and use new information within the field in a systematic approach. 5

4. Develop an innovative knowledge, method, design and/or practice or adapt an already known knowledge, method, design and/or practice to another field; research, conceive, design, adapt and implement an original subject. 5

5. Critical analysis, synthesis and evaluation of new and complex ideas. 4

6. Gain advanced level skills in the use of research methods in the field of study. 5

7. Contribute the progression in the field by producing an innovative idea, skill, design and/or practice or by adapting an already known idea, skill, design, and/or practice to a different field independently. 5

8. Broaden the borders of the knowledge in the field by producing or interpreting an original work or publishing at least one scientific paper in the field in national and/or international refereed journals. 4

9. Demonstrate leadership in contexts requiring innovative and interdisciplinary problem solving. 3

10. Develop new ideas and methods in the field by using high level mental processes such as creative and critical thinking, problem solving and decision making. 4

11. Investigate and improve social connections and their conducting norms and manage the actions to change them when necessary. 3

12. Defend original views when exchanging ideas in the field with professionals and communicate effectively by showing competence in the field. 3

13. Ability to communicate and discuss orally, in written and visually with peers by using a foreign language at least at a level of European Language Portfolio C1 General Level. 4

14. Contribute to the transition of the community to an information society and its sustainability process by introducing scientific, technological, social or cultural improvements. 4

15. Demonstrate functional interaction by using strategic decision making processes in solving problems encountered in the field. 3

16. Contribute to the solution finding process regarding social, scientific, cultural and ethical problems in the field and support the development of these values. 4

1. Develop the ability to use critical, analytical, and reflective thinking and reasoning 5

2. Reflect on social and ethical responsibilities in his/her professional life. 4

3. Gain experience and confidence in the dissemination of project/research outputs 4

4. Work responsibly and creatively as an individual or as a member or leader of a team and in multidisciplinary environments. 3

5. Communicate effectively by oral, written, graphical and technological means and have competency in English. 4

6. Independently reach and acquire information, and develop appreciation of the need for continuously learning and updating. 5

1. Develop a thorough knowledge of theories, concepts, and research methods in the field and apply them in research design and data analysis. 5

2. Assess the impact of the economic, social, and political environment from a global, national and regional level. 4

3. Know how to access written and visual, primary and secondary sources of information, interpret concepts and data from a variety of sources in developing disciplinary and interdisciplinary analyses. 5

1. Analyze historical and contemporary developments in Europe, specifically of the European integration process, from a multi-disciplinary perspective. 3

2. Grasp the main dynamics of the European order, politically, historically and economically. 3

3. Explain the European integration process and the EU's decision-making procedures and it's institutions. 1

1. Analyze historical and contemporary developments in Europe, specifically of the European integration process, from a multi-disciplinary perspective. 3

2. Grasp the main dynamics of the European order, politically, historically and economically. 3

3. Explain the European integration process and the EU's decision-making procedures and it's institutions. 1

1. Begin to grasp historical evolution and contemporary character of world politics. 2

1. Analyze current and persistent conflict situations with an emphasis on perceptual and cultural aspects of social conflicts. 2

2. Conduct research in sources of conflicts and possible conflict resolution methods such as negotiation, third-party intervention, cooperative decision making, peace building, track-two and citizens' diplomacy applied to various social contexts. 4

3. Design and implement conflict resolution process to policy issues related to disputes in or among identity groups, governments, organizations, civil society or corporations. 4

4. Develop and sustain arguments in a variety of forms, formulating appropriate questions and utilizing evidence. 5

1. Analyze current and persistent conflict situations with an emphasis on perceptual and cultural aspects of social conflicts. 2

2. Conduct research in sources of conflicts and possible conflict resolution methods such as negotiation, third-party intervention, cooperative decision making, peace building, track-two and citizens' diplomacy applied to various social contexts. 4

3. Design and implement conflict resolution process to policy issues related to disputes in or among identity groups, governments, organizations, civil society or corporations. 4

4. Develop and sustain arguments in a variety of forms, formulating appropriate questions and utilizing evidence. 5

1. Begin to grasp historical evolution and contemporary character of world politics. 2

ASSESSMENT METHODS and CRITERIA

  Percentage (%)
Midterm 25
Assignment 35
Term-Paper 30
Participation 10

RECOMENDED or REQUIRED READINGS

Textbook

Groves, Robert M., Floyd J. Fowler, Mick P. Couper, James M. Lepkowski, Eleanor Singer, and Roger Tourangeau. 2009. Survey Methodology. Second Edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.