Print Syllabus

Syllabus

PVG0046 Survey methodology for questionnaire-based surveys, 4.0 Credits

Subjects

Biology

Education cycle

Postgraduate level

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Admitted to a postgraduate program in animal science, biology, veterinary medicine, food science, nutrition, nursing, or related subjects, or to a residency program in veterinary science.

Objectives

The objective of the course is to introduce the wide field of survey methodology. We explore the process for planning and conducting a survey, often referred to as the survey process, consisting of a number of survey operations. You will learn how the design of each operation can affect the quality of the survey estimates, and about trade-offs between different potential errors. Among the survey operations, we focus especially on the sampling design and on the design of a questionnaire for data collection. In addition, since nonresponse is a common problem in many surveys, you will learn about various methods for dealing with nonresponse.

On completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Describe the survey process and the main potential sources of error in a survey.

• Apply some basic methods of survey sampling.

• Calculate the sampling error for some basic sampling designs.

• Apply the basic principles of questionnaire design.

• Select an appropriate strategy for dealing with nonresponse in a survey.

• Communicate the quality of a survey to a user.

Content

The course consists of lectures, workshops and home exercises. In the workshops, we highlight selected survey problems. As a participant, you are encouraged to bring your own problems to these workshops.

The main components of the course are:

• The survey process.

• The total survey error and its components.

• Introduction to survey sampling and estimation.

• Introduction to questionnaire design.

• Introduction to methods for dealing with nonresponse.

• Documentation of survey quality.

Formats and requirements for examination

Passed exercises, workshop participation, and passed examination in written and/or oral form.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

e course is composed of lectures/seminars (50 h) and self‐study (approximate 50 h).

Responsible department

Department of Clinical Sciences