166-053 Survey Research Methods

Note

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma or Fourth Year Honours in Political Science.

Semester

Subject Description

In this subject students will learn how to use surveys appropriately to answer research questions, questionnaire design, construction of valid indices, and use of pilot tests to improve design. There is some attention to issues of sampling, techniques for reducing and correcting measurement error, and statistical methods of analysing survey data, including structural equation modelling with the LISREL software. On completion of the subject the student should understand the strengths and weaknesses of public opinion surveys and their value for different research projects; have learned how to design a questionnaire; have learned about sampling theory and how to draw a sample; have an appreciation of the value and use of recent advances in field work to reduce measurement error in surveys; and have learned statistical methods, including structural equations methods, for analysing survey data.