institute for social research

York University  

Over 40 years of excellence in conducting applied and academic social research
York University
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON Canada
M3J 1P3

Telephone: 416-736-5061
Toll-free: 1-888-847-0148
Fax: 416-736-5749
E-mail: isrnews@yorku.ca

2011 Spring Seminar Series on Social Research Methods

Courses
Principles & Practice of Questionnaire Design
Survey Data Collection
Sampling for Population Surveys in a Nutshell
Introduction to Survey Data Analysis
The Art & Science of Research Interviewing
Conducting Focus Groups for Social Research
Interpreting Qualitative Data: An Overview
An NVivo Workshop  
Introduction to SPSS for Windows
Introduction to SAS for Windows

Pre-registration and payment of fees is required for all Short Courses.

Please follow these links for details on:

Course Fees
Registration
Certificate of Completion
Statistical Consulting Service

[Click here for Previous Courses]

Introduction

The Institute's 2011 Spring Seminar Series features courses on survey research in the first week and qualitative research methods in the second. In addition, there are introductory courses on SPSS and SAS.

The survey courses begin with a two-day session on questionnaire design. Each day offers a lecture in the morning and workshop in the afternoon. In the workshops, groups of students will develop survey questions for discussion. Important aspects of high quality survey data collection are discussed in a half-day lecture the next morning, and that afternoon provides an overview of survey sampling. The fourth and fifth days of this series provide a hands-on introduction to the analysis of survey data.

The qualitative research courses begin with a one-day seminar on research interviewing. The next day is devoted to focus groups and the third day deals with interpreting qualitative data, including textual materials from interviews and focus groups. The week concludes with a two-day workshop on the computerized analysis of text using NVivo.

The introductory SPSS and SAS courses are designed to equip participants to undertake basic statistical analysis of quantitative data.

These courses provide a hands-on approach to help researchers develop practical skills. They attract an interesting mix of graduate students, researchers from government and NGOs, faculty and university staff. In our teaching we strive to provide a successful introduction to each topic, while offering new insights for more experienced researchers.

Survey Research Methods (April 25-29, 2011)

Principles and Practice of Questionnaire Design
Instructors: Professor Michael Ornstein
Renée Elsbett-Koeppen, MSc
Liza Mercier, BSc
Dates: Monday, April 25 and Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Times: 9:30am-Noon; 1-3:30pm
Locations:

Lectures: Room 1004,
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building
Workshops: Room 1014
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building

Enrolment Limit: 30

This course provides a theoretical overview and practical guide to questionnaire design. The first morning session focuses on models of survey response B what respondents do when they answer survey questions B in relation to what the survey researcher wants to measure and the context of data collection. The second morning emphasizes practical aspects of writing survey questions and assembling an effective questionnaire. Topics covered include differences among self-administered, telephone and face-to-face surveys, open and closed questions, whether to solicit "don't know" answers, demographic questions, and the effects of question order. Questionnaire design is understood as a process rather than a discrete task. The presentation includes many examples.

The afternoon workshops are designed to extend and deepen your understanding of questionnaire design with some practical experience. Course participants will be divided into groups of about five and given a short survey design assignment, to be completed in an hour. The rest of the session will be spent discussing each group's questions.

Survey Data Collection
Instructor:
Professor Michael Ornstein
Date:
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Time:
9:30am-Noon (½ course)
Location:

Room 1004
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building

Enrolment Limit:
35

The course focuses on practical aspects of mailed and web surveys, with some discussion of telephone surveys. Topics covered include effective ways to solicit response, survey length and other predictors of response rates, alternative question formats and their effects on response distributions, and strategies to maximize response quality. At the heart of this process is an understanding of why people answer surveys and what affects how well they answer.

Note that this course is not about writing survey questions,
and not about programming a web survey.

Sampling for Population Surveys in a Nutshell
Instructor:
Professor Michael Ornstein
Date:
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Time:
1-3:30pm (½ course)
Location:

Room 1004
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building

Enrolment Limit:
35

This course provides a short, practical guide to sample design for survey researchers, emphasizing the strengths of alternative designs rather than the mechanics of sample selection. We begin with a description of simple random samples and complex samples, and the implications for sample design, sample size and data analysis. Decisions about sample design are set in the context of the limitations imposed by the survey population, the information available for sampling, and cost. The emphasis is on broader surveys designed for a variety of analyses, rather than on the "classical" concern with optimizing estimation of a single outcome.

An Introduction to Survey Data Analysis
Instructor:
Professor Bryn Greer-Wootten
Date:
Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29, 2011
Time:
9:30am-Noon; 1-3:30pm
Location:

Room 2114
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building

Enrolment Limit:
25

The practical analysis of survey research data is presented in this two-part course. The first day begins with the matrix representation of survey data, including levels of measurement for typical survey questions, the distributional properties of variables and simple descriptive statistics. Subsequently, the construction of scales (e.g., for attitude items) and the fundamentals of statistical inference and hypothesis testing in a survey context are developed. The second day continues with the implementation of a survey analysis design, including basic analyses of contingency tables, of group differences using analysis of variance, and of relationships between variables, using correlation and regression. On both days, the morning sessions are used for lectures and demonstrations; afternoon lab sessions replicate procedures used in the morning, for a different data set. To benefit from the course, participants should have some background in basic statistics or the fundamentals of survey research. Prior knowledge of SPSS would be beneficial.

Because these materials are presented sequentially and build upon the basics presented at the beginning of each day, participants need to arrive on time and attend both sessions.

Qualitative Research Methods (May 2-6, 2011)

The Art and Science of Research Interviewing
Instructors:
Raymond Garrison, MA
Professor Bryn Greer-Wootten
Date:
Monday, May 2, 2011
Time:
9:30am-Noon; 1-3:30pm
Location:

Room 1005
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building

Enrolment Limit:
40

The first section of this course provides the social science research context for interviewing as a process, through the lens of a quantitative-qualitative continuum. The more applied elements of research interviewing will focus on two interrelated areas:

  • interview design issues, such as interview types, arranging interviews, pre-testing, informed consent and confidentiality, standardization and flexibility, using multiple interviewers, longitudinal studies, and recording interviews; and
  • in-field considerations and techniques, such as probing, maintaining flow, issues of control and adaptation, positionality, and taking field notes.

The relative merits and challenges of a variety of interview types will be considered, across a continuum from qualitative to quantitative approaches, including oral narratives, conversational, semi-structured and structured interviews. Practical examples will be provided. Class participants are encouraged to discuss their own research projects in the context of issues raised throughout the course. This cross-disciplinary introductory course provides a comprehensive and detailed overview that is suitable for both academic and non-academic researchers.

Conducting Focus Groups for Social Research
Instructor:
John Pollard, MA
Date:
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Time:
9:30am-Noon; 1-3:30pm
Location:

Room 1009
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building

Enrolment Limit:
30

This is an introduction to focus group research. The morning session deals with the basic features of focus group planning and implementation, including how focus groups are currently used, strengths and weaknesses of the research method, ethical issues, and the stages of focus group research. The afternoon session focuses on practical aspects of conducting focus groups, including appropriate settings for focus groups, recruiting participants, developing a discussion outline, recording focus groups and moderator techniques.

Challenges that participants may encounter in focus group design, the identification and selection of participants, and data collection will also be discussed. This presentation is suitable for students, faculty, staff and other researchers who are considering focus group research for the first time, and also for researchers wanting to refresh their knowledge of this method.

Interpreting Qualitative Data: An Overview
Instructor:
Raymond Garrison, MA
Date:
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Time:
9:30am-Noon; 1-3:30pm
Location:

Room 1005
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building

Enrolment Limit:
40

This course provides a conceptual overview, with hands-on examples, of strategies for analyzing qualitative social science research materials, such as field notes, transcripts of in-depth interviews and focus groups, and documentary and archival materials. Organized around the major themes of keeping track of what you are doing, what you are finding, and how you are feeling about it, this course pays particular attention to the initial stages of analysis, and to coding and indexing as integral components of the analytic process.

A discussion of the presentation of results from qualitative research reviews various formats and approaches, the voice of the author and positionality, ethical and confidentiality issues, and the notions of 'qualitative rigour' and replication. The course concludes with a brief overview of the advantages and limitations of qualitative data analysis software, including NVivo. Class participants are encouraged to discuss their own research projects in the context of issues raised throughout the course. This course is well suited to researchers who are relatively new to qualitative analysis and to those wishing to know more about interpretive analysis in general.

Sorry, this course is now full
Using Computers in Qualitative Analysis: An NVivo Workshop
Instructor:
Professor Pamela Grassau
Date:
Thursday, May 5 and Friday, May 6, 2011
Time:
9:30am-Noon; 1-3:30pm
Location:

Room 2004
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building

Enrolment Limit:
25

This hands-on workshop will provide both a basic and advanced introduction to NVivo 9. The overall objective of this workshop is to provide you with the tools to move forward into your analysis in a way that ensures that the theory and methods guiding your project remain central as you move into NVivo. On Day One you will create a project and learn how to import and work with a wide range of qualitative data formats (e.g., interview transcripts, focus group transcripts, survey spreadsheets, etc.). On Day Two you will learn how to organize and explore your material, use advanced queries, identify relationships, use models and charts to show patterns in your information and create reports. Time will be provided on both days of the training for participants to work with their own data

Because these materials are presented sequentially and build upon the basics presented at the beginning of each day, participants need to arrive on time and attend both sessions.

Introduction to SPSS for Windows
Instructor:
Lisa Fiksenbaum, MA
Date:
Wednesdays, May 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2011
Time:
9am-12:30pm
Location:

Steacie Instructional Lab, Room 021
Steacie Science Library

Enrolment Limit:
35

This course presents the basics of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Session One will introduce the computing concepts of SPSS, the different facilities for reading data into an SPSS spreadsheet, and saving SPSS data files for future use. At the end of the first session, participants should be able to run simple programs, including some statistical procedures.

Sessions Two and Three will cover basic data modifications, transformations and other functions, including the uses of SPSS system files. More statistical procedures will also be introduced, with an emphasis on the use of graphical methods for examining univariate and bivariate relationships. Session Four will cover Analysis of Variance and Least Squares Regression. As with previous sessions, graphical techniques will be demonstrated. Participants will benefit if they have a basic level of statistical knowledge, but the course is designed as an introduction to data analysis using the SPSS program and not as a statistics course.

Because these materials are presented sequentially and build upon the basics presented at the beginning of each day, course participants need to arrive on time and attend the entire sessions

Click here to download SPSS course materials


An Introduction to SAS for Windows
Instructors:
Manolo Romero Escobar, MA
Hugh McCague, PhD
Date:
Fridays, May 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2011
Time:
9am-12:30pm
Location:

Steacie Instructional Lab, Room 021
Steacie Science Library

Enrolment Limit:
35

This short course provides a basic introduction to the Statistical Analysis System (SAS). Sessions One and Two provide: an overview of SAS and its underlying logic; an explanation of the use of the Display Manager System to run a SAS job; an introduction to the SAS Data step for reading, importing, transforming and storing numeric and character data; and a demonstration of how output can be changed with different options. In addition, some basic procedures in SAS will be introduced.

Sessions Three and Four will concentrate on SAS programming techniques to modify data, create charts and plots and transform temporary datasets to permanent datasets. A demonstration of how to use SAS/INSIGHT and SAS/ANALYST will be presented, as well as a basic description of the general linear model. The course is designed for participants with some introductory level statistical knowledge, but no previous experience in using SAS.

Because these materials are presented sequentially and build upon the basics presented at the beginning of each day, course participants need to arrive on time and attend the entire sessions.

Please click here http://psychmethods.blog.yorku.ca/
for the SAS course resources.


Course Fees

All fees include HST

For York students, the fees are $45.20 per full-course
and $22.60 per half-course.

For York faculty and staff, the fees are $90.40 per full-course
and $45.20 per half-course.

Full-time students at other post-secondary institutions may register for a fee of $79.10 per full-course and $39.55 per half-course.

For external participants, the fees per course are:

Principles and Practice of Questionnaire Design ..... $271.20
Survey Data Collection .................................... $67.80
Sampling for Population Surveys in a Nutshell ....... $67.80
An Introduction to Survey Data Analysis ............. $271.20
The Art & Science of Research Interviewing ......... $135.60
Conducting Focus Groups for Social Research ....... $135.60
Interpreting Qualitative Data: An Overview .......... $135.60
An NVivo Workshop ......................................... $271.20
An Introduction to SPSS for Windows ................. $361.60
An Introduction to SAS for Windows ................... $361.60

All participants: Certificate of Completion............. $5.65 each

See the registration form for payment options.

Refunds are available upon three business days' notice prior to the course start date and are subject to an administrative fee.

Please review our policy regarding refunds here.

Registration

You can register for courses by completing the on-line registration form, which are date-stamped. Acknowledgement will be provided on Monday March 21st.

As of March 21st you can register in person (weekdays, from 9:00am to 12:00pm or 2:00pm to 4:00pm), please see:

Anita Valencia
Room 5075
Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Building

To register by mail, print a blank registration form, complete, and send to:

Anita Valencia
Institute for Social Research
Room 5075
Technology Enhanced Learning Building
York University
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
Canada

You may also fax a completed registration form to: 416-736-5749. Acknowledgement will be provided on Monday March 21st.

Certificate of Completion

Available on request, full attendance is required.

A $5.65 administrative fee applies, for each certificate requested.

Additional Information

Additional information regarding registration:
As of March 21st please telephone 416-736-5061, weekdays,
from 9:00am to 12:00pm or 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Directions to York University (Keele Campus), building and parking lot locations click here. For additional information on parking click here.

Instructors

Renée Elsbett-Koeppen
Renée Elsbett-Koeppen received her MSc in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Western Ontario. She manages health-related research projects at ISR, including the Rapid Risk Factor Surveillance System, a monthly study for more than 20 Ontario public health units. Other recent projects: barriers to diabetes care, access to primary health care, and Canada's participation in an international study on gender, alcohol and culture.

Lisa Fiksenbaum is a Doctoral candidate in Social/Personality Psychology at York University where she received her BA and MA. She is a Teaching Assistant in the honours thesis course and has been involved in a number of research projects. Her research interests include organizational issues, work-family relationships, stress and coping. Proficient in SPSS, Ms. Fiksenbaum regularly consults with graduate students.

Raymond Garrison is a Senior Supervisor in the Telephone Lab at ISR. He holds a Specialized Honours BA (magna cum laude) and an MA in Geography from York University, and is pursuing a PhD in Geography (ABD) at York. Mr. Garrison has presented and published papers on qualitative methods and has designed and implemented questionnaire surveys. He has extensive experience with interviewing techniques and textual analysis.

Pamela Grassau, Doctoral candidate at Carleton University, is a Research Coordinator with the Palliative Care, Education and Research Group at the Élisabeth Bruyère Research Institute, in Ottawa. Pam's research focuses on relational experiences of health and illness, and she is particularly interested in the added dimensions and complexities that arise as one bridges together qualitative methods and the arts. Pam has been offering qualitative software training for the past nine years.

Bryn Greer-Wootten is Professor Emeritus in Environmental Studies and Professor Emeritus of Geography at York University. In 2002 he joined the staff in the Statistical Consulting Service, where he is currently an Associate Coordinator, and in 2004 was appointed an Associate Director of ISR. He has taught and carried out quantitative and qualitative research, with a particular interest in survey research, especially for environmental and social policy.

Hugh McCague completed a BMath (Honours) in Statistics at the University of Waterloo, and an MA in Statistics and PhD in Environmental Studies at York. He is a Data Analyst at ISR and a consultant and instructor in the Statistical Consulting Service. His research and publications concentrate on applications of mathematics and statistics in the history of art and architecture. He is Secretary of the Southern Ontario Regional Association of the Statistical Society of Canada.

Liza Mercier is a Project Manager at ISR where she manages a variety of mail, web and telephone surveys. She has a BSc in Health Studies from the University of Waterloo, with a background in public health, mainly in the areas of health education and health promotion. Her research interests focus on health-related social research.

Professor Michael Ornstein
Sociologist Michael Ornstein, Director of the Institute for Social Research, has more than 30 years experience in the design and analysis of surveys. He is author of two books and more than fifty articles and book chapters, almost all based on surveys. He leads ISR’s Summer Program in Data Analysis and consults on questionnaire design, sampling and data analysis.

John Pollard received his MA in Sociology from York University. He also holds a BA in French from the University of Toronto and a BA (Honours) in Sociology from York. Mr. Pollard manages research projects at ISR and consults with faculty, students and staff on survey administration and questionnaire design. He has managed qualitative research projects, including focus group studies, for many years and he teaches in this area.

Manolo Romero Escobar, MA, is a Doctoral candidate in Psychology at York University where he has been a statistical and research methodology consultant. His current research interests include assessment and measurement of psychological constructs in cognitive development, social-emotional development, and health psychology. As a consultant he has worked on factor analytic and latent-trait methods of measurement, as well as the psychometrics of test and scale development.

Statistical Consulting Service (SCS)

The Institute for Social Research's Statistical Consulting Service provides consultation on a broad range of statistical problems and on the use of computers for statistical analysis. Its services extend beyond the social sciences to other disciplines that make use of statistics. Consultation is available to assist in research design, data collection, data analysis, statistical computing, and the presentation of statistical material.

Consultation is provided by a group of faculty drawn from York University's Departments of Psychology, Mathematics and Statistics, and Geography in conjunction with full time professional staff at ISR. The faculty and staff have extensive experience with many forms of statistical analysis. Topics for which assistance is available include regression analysis, multivariate analysis, analysis of categorical data, structural equation modeling, factor analysis, multilevel/mixed modeling, survey data and longitudinal data, experimental design, survey sampling, and statistical computing.

Three times a year, the Statistical Consulting Service offers short courses on various aspects of statistics and statistical computing, including regular introductions to the SPSS and SAS statistical packages. Recent course offerings have addressed factor analysis, structural equation modeling, graphical methods for categorical data, introduction to the R programming language, and mixed models.

The Statistical Consulting Service maintains a regular schedule of office hours during the academic year. The Service primarily serves the York University community; for others, consultation is available on a fee-for-service basis. Please go to the Institute's Web site at www.isr.yorku.ca/scs to make appointments online with SCS consultants.

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