Teaching Data Collection in Social Survey Research

Abstract

Respondent and investigator-based approaches to measurement in survey-type research are described. While the former, based on standardized questionnaires, have dominated sociological research, they are of limited use for the measurement of any phenomena of complexity or emotional depth. It is essential to develop an alternative tradition of measurement based on intensive interviews and investigator-based ratings. Postgraduate teaching needs to concentrate on three issues: (1) ways of developing interview schedules and rating scales; (2) methods of testing the reliability and validity of measures; (3) conveying something of the skills required for interviewing and rating.