How to Frame and Explain the Survey Data in Your Thesis

February 11, 2009

1737 Cambridge St. , Room K - 357, Cambridge, MA (Map)


CGIS - K-357

Presented by:

Chase H. Harrison, Ph.D.

Preceptor in Survey Research

 Surveys are a special research tool with strengths, weaknesses, and a language all of their own.  There are many different steps to designing and conducting a survey, and survey researchers have specific ways of describing what they do. 

This two-hour workshop sponsored by the Harvard Program on Survey Research is geared toward honors thesis authors in the social sciences who are using original survey data in their theses.  It may also be useful to students conducting analysis of pre-existing data. 

 It will cover different steps of the survey process, and discuss standard terminology used to convey different types of survey designs.  The workshop will also talk about how to think about the impact of survey design on survey findings, how to anticipate questions readers might have about a survey, and how to effectively address and discuss potential problems with survey data collection.  Discussion will be focused on the survey data being used in the theses of participants. 

Topics Include:

  • How to talk about respondents, samples, and populations
  • Describing sampling methods
  • Data collection methods: using the language of modes
  • Talking about field protocols
  • Understanding and explaining nonresponse
  • How to talk about the specific wording of questions
  • Technical terms for questionnaires and question types
  • Talking about translation and multi-lingual interviewing
  •  Documentation: What to include, when, where, and why.

Sponsored by

Program on Survey Research