Survey Success: Simple Rules for Effective Survey Design

For more information or to schedule this course, please contact Deborah Charbonneau <dcharbon@wayne.edu>.

(2 hour version) Learn how to create a successful survey! A major goal of this CE Course is to demystify the survey process to empower librarians and information professionals to effectively utilize survey research in their work environments. This course focuses on simple rules for effectively and efficiently using surveys to obtain information that is meaningful for improving the quality of library services. In particular, crafting effective survey questions to elicit informative answers and constructing an easy-to-use questionnaire format will be discussed.

(4 hour version) Learn how to create a successful survey! A major goal of this CE Course is to demystify the survey process to empower librarians and information professionals to effectively utilize survey research in their work environments. This course focuses on simple rules for effectively and efficiently using surveys to obtain information that is meaningful for improving the quality of library services. In particular, crafting effective survey questions to elicit informative answers and constructing an easy-to-use questionnaire format will be discussed. In addition, survey clarity, sampling methods, reliability, validity, privacy, confidentiality, and various features of web survey tools will be covered.

Learning Objectives

Workshop attendees will actively engage and participate in discussions, exercises, and small group activities.

Anticipated outcomes are that:

o Librarians will acquire an innovative and creative method of obtaining information that will help them improve their level of librarianship.

o Librarians will acquire knowledge and skills in the design, creation and implementation of surveys for the web.

o Librarians will improve their ability to manage health science information resources by being able to use survey tools to ascertain more about how their resources are used.

Agenda

Workshop Agenda (2 hours)

Welcome and Introductions

Part I: Overview 
o	The Survey Research Process 
o	Deadly Sins of Surveys

Part II: Elements of Effective Survey Design
o	Types of Questions
o	Questionnaire Construction

Group Activity (Critique Survey Questions)

Wrap-Up and Evaluation

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Workshop Agenda (4 hours)

Welcome and Introductions

Part I: Overview 
o	The Survey Research Process 
o	Deadly Sins of Surveys
o	Web-Based vs. Paper-Based Surveys

Part II: Elements of Effective Survey Design
o	Sampling, Reliability & Validity
o	Working with Survey Data
o	Types of Questions
o	Questionnaire Construction

BREAK 

Part III: Survey Planning and Implementation
o	Survey Planning Flow Chart
o	Planning and Implementation Checklist

Part IV: Overview of Web Survey Tools
o	Web Survey Tools
o	Features To Look For

Wrap-Up and Evaluation

Facility Requirements

Computer, laptop, and flip charts for small group activities.

MLA CE Credits: 2 or 4

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