54994 - Opinion Polls

Academic Year 2008/2009

  • Docente: Alberto Cazzola
  • Credits: 5
  • SSD: M-PSI/05
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Statistics and Social Research (cod. 0490)

Learning outcomes

At the end of course, the student will be able to manage theoretical framework and practical problems  concerning the design of survey sample  about social questions

Course contents

The course emphasis on the theorethical problems of sample design, which provides students with an understanding of principles and practice in skills required to select subjects and analyze sample data, and practical aspects about the nature of human behavior that affect the quality of survey data. 

It will also present important statistical concepts and techniques in sample design, execution, and estimation, as well as models of behavior describing errors in responding to survey questions.  Thus, both social science and statistical concepts will be presented. 

The course uses the concept of total survey error as a framework to discuss coverage properties of sampling frames, alternative sample designs and their impacts on standard errors of survey statistics, alternative modes of data collection, field administration operations, the role of the survey interviewer, impacts of nonresponse on survey statistics, the effect of question structure, wording and context on respondent behavior, models of measurement error, postsurvey processing, and estimation in surveys. 

Readings/Bibliography

V. Barnett, Sample Survey - Principles and Methods,  Arnold London 1997

G. Cicchitelli, A. Hertzel, G.E. Montanari, Il campionamento Statistico, Il Mulino Bologna 1992

Teaching methods

Direct lessons and computer laboratory

Assessment methods

Unwritten direct test

Teaching tools

Slide and online papers

Links to further information

http://www2.stat.unibo.it/cazzola

Office hours

See the website of Alberto Cazzola