B5266 - Qualtrics: Drafting a Questionnaire

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and technical skills needed for the design, construction and use the questionnaire, the standardized data collection tool used in the survey. At the end of the workshop the student will be able to understand the main problems and possible solutions inherent both the empirical translation of hypotheses of research derived from a theoretical approach (conceptualization and operation of concepts in variables), and the construction of the questionnaire, in merit, in particular, to determining aspects such as the content, form and formulation of the questions and the different ways of gathering information.

Course contents

The first part of the course will illustrate:

• the design of research, from the formulation of research questions to the empirical translation of concepts;
• operational definition;
• identifying indicators of the concept;
• the formulation techniques of the questions of a questionnaire;
• the software Qualtrics.
  

In the second part a theme will be chosen and a questionnaire will be constructed through a individual or group work (max 2 persons) guided by the teacher, retracing as much as possible the phases of construction of a questionnaire, until the uploading on Qualtrics for web surbey, pre-test and administer questionnaire.

Each student shall fill in the questionnaire. Students will be requested to present and discuss the questionnaire in the classroom. This aims to support students in the comprehension of initial research questions and methodological issues, and to assess the effectiveness and usefulness of the individual questionnaire. The preparation of the tool, and the presentation and discussion in the classroom are a fundamental part in determining the final grade (see below)

Readings/Bibliography

Material that can be freely accessed on-line and slides used in class (which can be downloaded from "Virtuale" website).

 

The course does not require the use of specific manuals / texts, however the teacher strongly recommends reading the following text:

P. Corbetta, Metodologia e tecniche della ricerca sociale, Il Mulino, 1999, chapters 3, 5, 6

The text can be replaced by P. Corbetta, La ricerca sociale: metodologia e tecniche, vol. II. Le tecniche quantitative, Il Mulino, 2003, chapters 1, 3 e 4.

M. C. Pitrone, Sondaggi e interviste, Franco Angeli, 2009, chapters 4-8.

The laboratory is in continuity with the teaching of Social and Political Research Methodology.

Teaching methods

Lectures. Practical exercises on administer questionnarie and web survey with Qualtrics guided by the teacher.

Assessment methods

Participation in class is compulsory and attendance will be recorded. Presence in at least 80% of classes is required (maximum two absences).

Participation will be assessed in terms of attendance and active interaction in classroom.

The final grade is given by active participation in the lessons and the grade achieved in the final exam.

Final mark grading:

• Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and ability to analyze emerging only with the help of the lecturer, expression in overall correct language → 18-19;
• Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course and ability to analyze autonomously only on purely executive issues, expression in correct language → 20-24;
• Preparation on a large number of topics dealt with in the course, ability to make autonomous choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology → 25-29;
• Substantially comprehensive preparation on topics dealt with in the course, ability to make autonomous choices of critical analysis and linking, full mastery of specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflect → 30-30 L

 

If students do not pass this exam or reject the final grade, they can take the exam as non-attending students in any regular session starting from January 2025. To take the exam, students have to sign up on Almaesami.

Candidates who pass the exam can refuse the final mark (thus requesting to re-take the exam) only once, in accordance with the university's teaching regulations. After having rejected a passing mark, any other subsequent passing mark will be recorded definitively in candidates' transcipts.

if the student fails to achieve the minimum mark (18/30), or decide to refuse the mark, an in-person exam is envisaged. The exam consists of a discussion on a questionnaire provided by the teacher in the occasion.

Teaching tools

Qualtrics, Excel, PowerPoint, browser.

Lessons take place in classrooms equipped with electrical outlets, so students will need to bring their own laptop

Office hours

See the website of Valerio Vanelli