Survey Research and Methodology
Staff ContactBarbara Rolfes
402-472-7758
brolfes3@unl.edu
Faculty Contact
Professor Janet Harkness
402-472-7768
jharkness2@unl.edu
On the Web
SRAM Website
Description
What it is
The graduate certificate in Survey Research and Methodology provides a firm grounding in survey research methods and data analysis. Certificate courses can also be used toward an M.S. degree.Who it's for
The program is ideal for professionals in a wide range of fields who need to use and understand surveys.Delivery
All courses are taught on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln city campus; video conferencing options may be possible.How to apply
Step 1: Admission as a UNL graduate student.If you are not already a UNL graduate student, you will have to apply for admission either to a degree program or as a non-degree student.
- If degree-seeking: Requirements and deadlines vary by degree program. Check your program of interest for details.
- If non-degree: The following materials are required by the Office of Graduate Studies:
- Application for Graduate Admission as a non-degree student
- $45 non-refundable application processing fee
- One set of official transcripts showing conferral of a bachelor's or higher degree
Required by Survey Research and Methodology
- Entrance exam(s): None
- Minimum TOEFL: Paper-585 Internet-95
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal statement of interest and relevant experience
Courses
This graduate certificate program consists of 18 semester credit hours: five required courses and one elective.
Courses listed below are 3 credit hours each. The five required courses are offered every year — three in fall and two in spring.
Sample Timeline
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Fall Semester Start Fall - SRAM 816, SRAM 818 Spring - SRAM 921, SRAM 947 Fall - SRAM 815, SRAM 922 |
Spring Semester Start Spring - SRAM 817, SRAM 947 Fall - SRAM 815, SRAM 816 Spring - SRAM 921 Fall - SRAM 818 |
The following five courses are required.
Offered in fall |
Offered in spring |
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SRAM 816 - Principles of Survey Analysis Introduction to the basic principles of causality and inductive logic in contemporary social and behavioral science. One, two, and multi-way layouts in analysis of variance, fixed effects models, and linear regression in several variables; the Gauss-Markov Theorem; multiple regression analysis; and basic principles of experimental and quasi-experimental designs. |
SRAM 818 - Data Collection Methods Effects of various data collection methods on survey errors. The strengths, weaknesses, and challenges of data collection modes and mixed-mode methods. Processes underlying data collection and prctical challenges that arise with each mode; coverage error; non response error; interviewer effects and training; timing; and mode effects. |
SRAM 819 - Applied Sampling Design of probability samples, sampling populations of humans and unique challenges posed by such populations, restricted by cost and available sampling frames. Simple random sampling, stratification, cluster sampling, systematic sampling, multistage sampling, and probability proportional to size sampling, area probability sampling, and telephone samples. |
SRAM 921 - Total Survey Error Common language of survey errors across social science disciplines. Causes of survey coverage, nonresponse, measurement, and processing errors; techniques used to reduce the error in practice; and statistical models and designs that exist to measure the error. Implications of cost and trade-offs between error sources. |
SRAM 947 - Questionnaire Design Crosslisted as PSYC 947. Design of questionnaries for survey research and the theoretical and practical issues arising from them. Selection of appropriate measurement techniques for assessing opinions, past behaviors and events, and factual material. |
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Additionally, the certificate requires one elective from the SRAM MS core curriculum as listed below.
800-level SRAM
SRAM 817 - Cross-cultural and Multi-population Survey MethodologyMulti-national research projects and the methodological challenges. Key aspects of cross-national, cross-cultural survey research, study design and organization; survey error and bias; question design; harmonization; adaptation and translation; survey process quality monitoring and control; and process and output documentation.
SRAM 824 - Advanced Quantitative Analysis in Marketing
Crosslisted as MRKT 824. Prerequisite: Permission.
Review, evaluation, and design of advanced marketing research investigations. State-of-the-art methodological issues relevant to marketing to provide an understanding of multivariate data analysis pertinent to the marketing literature. Analysis of linkage, structure, and causality/change for marketing phenomena.
SRAM 863 - Advanced Methods of Social Research II
Crosslisted as SOCI 863.
Intensive analysis of the logic and techniques of sociological analysis: techniques of scaling and index construction; contingency table analysis; measures of association; parametric and nonparametric statistical inference; and generalizations from systematic findings.
SRAM 898 - Categorical Data Analysis
Crosslisted as SOCI 902. Prerequisite: Permission.
Topic varies.
Outside SRAM
STAT 802 - Experimental DesignPrerequisite: STAT 801.
Suitability and efficiency of various designs in conducting experimental investigations in related areas and the statistical analysis of the data.
EDPS 870 - Introcution to Education and Psychological Measurement
Prerequisite: EDPS 859 or equivalent.
Introduction to the construction, evaluation, and ethical use of measurement instruments commonly used in education and psychology. Test construction principles, item analysis, reliability, validity, ethical issues in testing, and evaluation of standardized tests.
PSYC 948 - Latent Trait Measurement Models
Current issues related to psycho-educational service delivery to children and families from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Integrating research and field experiences to provide students with skills to develop, implement, and deliver culturally sensitive and effective school psychological services.
900-level SRAM
SRAM 902 - Seminar in Research Methods
Crosslisted as SOCI 902. Prerequisite: Permission.
SRAM 915 - Advanced Sampling
Advanced topics related to sampling error in surveys. Complex sample designs used to measure populations of humans, effect of nonresponse on sampling error and data analysis; methods available to "repair" the missing information; the implications of complex sample designs for analyses; and variance estimation.
SRAM 922 - Randomized and Nonrandomized Research Design
Logic of causal inference in research design. Obstacles to causal inference, faulty measurement, un-representativeness, spuriousness, specification errors, and confounds. Experimental and quasi-experimental designs, with inferential pitfalls peculiar to each design. Statistical procedures to illustrate the logic behind various data analytic approaches and the different problems that can limit conclusions derived from these tools.
SRAM 941 - Intermediate Statistics: Experimental Methods
Crosslisted as EDPS 941. Prerequisite: EDPS 859.
Computation, interpretation, and application of analysis of variance techniques, including factorial and mixed model designs. Computer and microcomputer software accessed.
SRAM 942 - Intermediate Statistics: Correlational Methods
Crosslisted as EDPS 942. Prerequisite: EDPS 859 or equivalent.
Various correlational-based statistical procedures presented, including linear and nonlinear regression, multiple regression, statistical control, analysis of interactions, the general linear model, factor analysis, and discriminant analysis.
Crosslisted as SOCI 902. Prerequisite: Permission.
SRAM 915 - Advanced Sampling
Advanced topics related to sampling error in surveys. Complex sample designs used to measure populations of humans, effect of nonresponse on sampling error and data analysis; methods available to "repair" the missing information; the implications of complex sample designs for analyses; and variance estimation.
SRAM 922 - Randomized and Nonrandomized Research Design
Logic of causal inference in research design. Obstacles to causal inference, faulty measurement, un-representativeness, spuriousness, specification errors, and confounds. Experimental and quasi-experimental designs, with inferential pitfalls peculiar to each design. Statistical procedures to illustrate the logic behind various data analytic approaches and the different problems that can limit conclusions derived from these tools.
SRAM 941 - Intermediate Statistics: Experimental Methods
Crosslisted as EDPS 941. Prerequisite: EDPS 859.
Computation, interpretation, and application of analysis of variance techniques, including factorial and mixed model designs. Computer and microcomputer software accessed.
SRAM 942 - Intermediate Statistics: Correlational Methods
Crosslisted as EDPS 942. Prerequisite: EDPS 859 or equivalent.
Various correlational-based statistical procedures presented, including linear and nonlinear regression, multiple regression, statistical control, analysis of interactions, the general linear model, factor analysis, and discriminant analysis.
SRAM 946 - Psychology of Survey Response
Crosslisted as PSYC 946.
Cognitive and communicative processes effect on dynamics of survey interviewing and relationships to principles of survey design. Effects of question wording on comprehension; question order and context on attitude; communicative and retrieval processes on validity of retrospective behavioral reports; and impact of response alternatives on answers.
SRAM 971 - Structural Equation Modeling
Crosslisted as EDPS 971. Prerequisite: SRAM/EDPS 942 and 970; or equivalent.
Introduction to the techniques of path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling with emphasis on the set-up and interpretation of different models using the LISREL program. Model testing and evaluation, goodness-of-fit indices, violations of assumptions, specification searches, and power analyses.
SRAM 972 - Multivariate Analysis
Crosslisted as EDPS 972. Prerequisite: SRAM/EDPS 941 and 942.
Techniques of multivariate analyses, including multivariate analysis of variance and covariance, multivariate multiple regression, multigroup discriminant analysis, canonical analysis, repeated measures (Multivariate model), and time series Mathematical models presented and analyzed. Instruction complemented by appropriate statistical software packages.
Crosslisted as PSYC 946.
Cognitive and communicative processes effect on dynamics of survey interviewing and relationships to principles of survey design. Effects of question wording on comprehension; question order and context on attitude; communicative and retrieval processes on validity of retrospective behavioral reports; and impact of response alternatives on answers.
SRAM 971 - Structural Equation Modeling
Crosslisted as EDPS 971. Prerequisite: SRAM/EDPS 942 and 970; or equivalent.
Introduction to the techniques of path analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling with emphasis on the set-up and interpretation of different models using the LISREL program. Model testing and evaluation, goodness-of-fit indices, violations of assumptions, specification searches, and power analyses.
SRAM 972 - Multivariate Analysis
Crosslisted as EDPS 972. Prerequisite: SRAM/EDPS 941 and 942.
Techniques of multivariate analyses, including multivariate analysis of variance and covariance, multivariate multiple regression, multigroup discriminant analysis, canonical analysis, repeated measures (Multivariate model), and time series Mathematical models presented and analyzed. Instruction complemented by appropriate statistical software packages.
