Qualtrics API (online)

This course will be offered ONLINE. It will not be recorded as there are in-class activities. This course will begin at 10am – those who need assistance prior to the course can arrive or log on at 9am for an accessory hour.

Description: This is a full-day, intensive, online interactive course focused on using the Qualtrics Application Programming Interface (API) to interact with survey instruments and data housed on the platform. The session will be broken into to two segments over the course of the day: 1) we will cover the basics of what an API is, how they work, and what they are used for, all set in terms of the Qualtrics platform; and 2) will cover practical examples for programming with the Qualtrics API using R, Python, and JavaScript (Node). Participants will have the opportunity to work hands-on with writing simple code that they will be able to build on. The goal of the course is to give participants the basic tools needed to begin to automate parts of their research workflows that interact with Qualtrics, thereby decreasing workload and increasing data security.

Learning Objectives:

– Understand Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), routes, and endpoints as part of a data collection and analysis workflow.
– Become familiar with some of the methods available through the Qualtrics API that are analogous to functions that can be performed using the web interface.
– Understand how to read API documentation and make requests against endpoints.
– Understand how to incorporate API calls into your data organization, cleaning, and analysis (or other) code.
– Be regarded as a wizard by your Qualtrics-using colleagues.

Take-away: Working through an API allows your code to interact directly with a system or platform to perform import, export, and other functions without having to manually download or upload information through the web-based user interface. This allows for more secure data transfer, decreased possibility for human error in data cleaning and analysis, and better overall replicability through your data workflow.

NB: For one hour before the advertised start time, we will hold an open session for you to join us and get assistance with setting up your system, installing the software you need, etc. Details and software requirements will be sent by the instructor to registered participants one week before the course date.

This course will count as 6.0 CSS short course credit hours.

Instructor: John D. Martin III

John D. Martin III is the Research Data Systems Archivist at the Odum Institute for Research in Social Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He works with both the Data Archive and the Research Data Information Systems teams to support and develop technical data management infrastructure and envision its future at UNC. He has a background in system administration and programming in addition to archives, research development, and pedagogy.

John’s research is in critical research methodology and focuses on trust and credibility in interfaces, systems, and other intermediaries that facilitate information exchange and transfer between people. He received his PhD from UNC’s School of Information and Library Science and his MA in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the American University in Cairo.

Registration fees:

• UNC Chapel Hill Students: $0, with a $35 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: $80
• Non-UNC Chapel Hill University Student/Employee (must have active university email): $105
• Government/Non-Profit/Corporate: $130

Additional course information:

• Registration will close at 12:01am 11/7/2023. No late registrations will be accepted.
• 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 the course. Registration must be made at least 3 days prior to the course date to receive the Zoom link.