Designing, delivering and analysing surveys

 

Module Aims: This module aims to equip students in the use of surveys in population health sciences, to allow them to identify when and how surveys are powerful research tools, and to understand both best practice and common pitfalls.

 

Module Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the module students should be able to:

1. Understand when surveys might be used in Population Health Sciences
2. Describe the key stages in designing and delivering questionnaire surveys
3. Understand what standard survey instruments are, and how they are used
4. Understand the reasons and principles behind different survey sampling approaches
5. Identify examples of good and poor questionnaire design
6. Define key aspects of reliability and validity, and describe their importance in survey research
7. Be aware of existing national surveys that are available for analysis, including the General Practice Patient Survey, the Health Survey for England and the National Diet and Nutrition survey.
8. Analyse survey data

 

Pre-requisites:

Principles of Biostatistics; Applied Data Analysis

 

Teaching Strategy:

The course will be delivered using a combination of lectures, experiential learning, and group discussions.

 

Assessment:

A written assignment in which students are required to select a survey instrument of their choice and in less than 1000 words describe the instrument, how it was developed and subsequently validated, and the implications of those methods and results on potential use of the instrument in research.

 

Module Length: 2 days