Welcome to the Center for Capacity Building in Survey Methods and Statistics

  • This short course series is sponsored by the International Statistical Institute, University of Michigan Center for Capacity Building in Survey Methods and Statistics.  The mission of the Center is to:
    - Promote excellence in survey and statistics research;
    - Build research infrastructure;
    - Support sound institutions; and
    - Foster collaborative training and education  
    The courses are set up as ‘learn at your own pace’ and are not moderated. Each course is partitioned into topic modules. The topics are delivered via video(s) and each video has a corresponding quiz (auto-graded). 
    The courses are intended as an introductory for each topic. Each course provides suggested readings for additional learning opportunities. 

    This is a beta version of the courses. We welcome feedback and suggestions in the interest of supporting best practices in data collection and survey methodology in cross-cultural and international settings. 

  • Instructions for registering, navigating website, viewing videos and taking quizzes.

Available courses

Design and Implementation

This course focuses on design and implementation considerations for different phases of the survey lifecycle in international surveys. Overview and considerations related to ten specific topics are discussed: total survey error framework, project stakeholders, triple constraints, bids and contracts, sampling and sample management, questionnaire and instrument design, translation and adaptation, pretesting and cognitive interviews, interviewers and data collection, and interviewer monitoring. 

Approximate Running Time: 

4 hours 13 minutes (not including time to take quizzes) 

Project Management

This course provides a brief introduction to project management for multinational, multiregional and multicultural contexts (3MC) surveys. Course modules cover basic project management concepts and knowledge areas, including scope and time, costs, quality, communication, human resources, risk, and procurement and integration. The final modules cover the project management phases: overview, initiating, planning, executing and closing.

Approximate Running Time:

2 hours 9 minutes (not including time to take quizzes) 

Introduction to Sampling

This course provides an introduction to sampling and sample design issues for international surveys. Topics include, probability sampling, steps for selecting a sample, weighting, survey statistics and variance estimate, sample size determination, and responsive design. 

Approximate Running Time: 

1 hour 15 minutes (not including time to take quizzes)

Questionnaire Design: for surveys in 3MC Contexts

This course provides an overview of questionnaire design issues, including operationalizing research questions to questionnaires, survey response model, asking various types of questions (factual, quasi-factual, attitudinal, and sensitive questions), response scales, mode effects, tools for testing questionnaires and considerations for multinational, multiregional and multicultural contexts (3MC) surveys. The course also discusses questionnaire translation, the definition of culture, the role of cultural norms and cognition for 3MC surveys, measurement comparability issues, methods to address measurement noncomparability, cultural adaptations as well as questionnaire evaluation.

Approximate Running Time: 

4 hours 59 minutes (does not include time to take quizzes)  

General Interviewing Techniques

This course provides a brief introduction to survey research interviewing. This brief introduction covers standardized interviewing techniques and gaining cooperation from respondents. The final module of the course addresses the topics of how to structure and conduct interviewer training, how to provide supervision during data collection, and how to assess and maintain quality standards in data collection.

Approximate Running Time:

1 hour 39 minutes (not including time to take quizzes and supplemental videos) 

Transitions to Telephone Surveys

This course is based on several webinars presented by experts at the University of Michigan Survey Research Center. The webinars were delivered during a two-week series of presentations hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in response to the need for a rapid transition from face-to-face to telephone surveys during the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020. Presentations focus on issues related to sampling frames, nonresponse and weighting, measurement issues, and topics pertaining to interviewer hiring, training, and monitoring. 

Quizzes are not available for this series of short courses.

Approximate Running Time: 4 hours 10 minutes  





Data Dissemination

The goal of this course is to highlight the importance of sharing research data with secondary analysts and to provide an overview of data dissemination issues in multinational, multiregional and multicultural contexts (3MC) surveys. Ten key guidelines on preparing files for disseminating data are discussed with real-world examples given.  The topics include, preservation plans, disclosure analysis, the importance of both public and restrictive versions of data files, training opportunities for new users, comprehensive documentation, publication of research findings and the overall importance of quality control.  

Approximate Running Time: 

25 minutes (not including time to take quizzes)  


 

Survey Questionnaire Translation

This course provides both a general overview of questionnaire translation best practices focusing primarily on the TRAPD (Translation, Review, Adjudication, Pretesting, and Documentation) team translation model, as well as a review of translation "Do's and Don'ts", with examples of common pitfalls and challenges unique to the translation of survey questionnaires.


Approximate Running Time: 1 hour 32 minutes (not including time to take quizzes)