Introduction to Interviews and Surveys: Planning Data Collection for Your Thesis or Dissertation (Online)

This 3-hour course will be offered online only. Attendance is required as the course will not be recorded. 

Completing your own data collection during a dissertation or thesis is exciting but can also be overwhelming. This course provides students with an introduction in two of the most common methods used in data collection: completing one-on-one interviews and administering surveys. Students will learn fundamental practices in planning, designing, and conducting data collection using qualitative interviewing and survey research methodologies. Part 1 will introduce one-on-one interviews while part 2 will cover survey administration.

Part 1 will introduce students to constructing an interview guide using questions focusing on categorical knowledge, episodic knowledge, and abstract knowledge. We will discuss a range of interview types, from unstructured to semi-structured.

Part 2 will provide basics on sampling, questionnaire development including writing questions and question ordering, visual design of surveys, testing, and monitoring. We will primarily focus on web, paper, and in-person survey modes.

Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and brainstorm about potential research data collection designs. While the course is tailored to students preparing for a dissertation or thesis, anyone interested in gaining fundamental knowledge to complete primary data collection can attend.

This course will count as 3.0 CSS short course credits.

Instructors: Paul Mihas and Jessica Grant

Paul Mihas is the Assistant Director of Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research at the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has partnered with ResearchTalk Inc. since 2001 as a senior qualitative analysis consultant and has lectured on qualitative methods, software, and strategies for analysis at several universities, including the University of Puerto Rico and Howard University. Since 2013, he has taught at the Global School in Empirical Research Methods at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. He is co-editor, with C. Vanover and J. Saldaña, of Analyzing and Interpreting Qualitative Research: After the Interview (2022, SAGE). He has served as faculty at the annual Qualitative Research Summer Intensive and as a mentor at ResearchTalk’s Qualitative Data Analysis Camps. His interests include data visualization in mixed methods and integrating coding and memo writing in qualitative analysis.
Jessica Grant is the Associate Director of Research at the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also the Director for Odum’s graduate level Certificate in Survey Science. Jessica has 20 years of experience overseeing social science research projects for federal and state government agencies, universities, private organizations, and foundations. She offers expertise in survey research project design, questionnaire development, and data collection for the social, behavioral, and health sciences. Prior to joining the Odum Institute in 2021, Ms. Grant was a Research Survey Scientist and Administrative Manager in the Public Health and Clinical Research program within RTI International’s Survey Research Division for over 13 years. She received her M.A. in Sociology at Fayetteville State University while working as the Survey Research Center Coordinator at Fayetteville State’s Research Center for Health Disparities. She received her B.A. in Sociology and Women’s Studies from UNC Chapel Hill and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate at UNC in Field Epidemiology.

Registration fees:

• • UNC Chapel Hill Students: $0, with a $25 deposit to hold your spot (deposit is refundable upon your attendance for at least 66% of the course)
  • UNC Chapel Hill Faculty/Staff/Postdoc/Resident/Visiting Scholars: $50
  • University (Non UNC Chapel Hill) Student/Employee (must have active university email): $75
  • Government/Non-Profit/Corporate: $100

Additional course information:

• Cancellation/ Refund Policy: A full refund will be given to those who cancel their registration no later than 10 days prior to the course. If you cancel within the 10 days prior to the class, no refund will be given. Please allow 30 days to receive your refund.
• Zoom link will be sent prior to course.

For questions regarding this class, please contact Jill Stevens at jill_stevens@unc.edu