Design and Implementation of Longitudinal Surveys

Anmeldeanfrage bitte aufgrund des frühen Termins im Wintersemester zählen nur die Anmeldungen bis zum Seminartermin. Katrin [dot] Drasch [at] fau [dot] de

Der Kurs wird in deutscher Sprache abgehalten, die Literatur und das Folienmaterial sind jedoch englischsprachig.

The collection and analysis of longitudinal data has received much attention in the past years. Currently, it is regarded as the gold standard of empirical social research. However, less focus is often laid on how to carry out longitudinal surveys. Thus, the course aims at covering all the main stages of designing and implementing longitudinal surveys, at revealing the challenges faced when conducting longitudinal surveys, and at discussing existing large-scale surveys.

The course starts with an overview of the historical development and the current relevance of longitudinal surveys, also providing information about important German and international longitudinal surveys and their specific features. Subsequently, basic types of longitudinal studies (panel versus retrospective designs, household and individual surveys) will be introduced and their strengths and weaknesses in terms of data collection and analysis will be discussed. Afterwards, we will introduce the whole process of longitudinal data collection and describe different sources of quality problems and error.

Using this framework, the main steps of this process will be discussed in more detail. First, design features specific to longitudinal studies regarding population, sampling, survey mode, and retrospective interval are tackled. Second, the course will focus on instrument development in longitudinal studies. In panel study designs, we will cover dependent interviewing, seam effects and panel conditioning. In retrospective designs, we will introduce different approaches of collecting retrospective data, paying special attention to autobiographic memory processes and cognitive interviewing strategies to minimize recall errors in question development. Third, a shorter session will inform on specific aspects of fieldwork and survey administration of longitudinal surveys. Fourth, problems of nonresponse such as panel attrition and nonresponse bias will be tackled and ways how to overcome these problems (tracking, panel care and incentives) and correct for them (calibration and longitudinal weighting) will be introduced. The course ends with a discussion of current developments, e.g. linking administrative data to longitudinal surveys, and a short overview of analysis strategies for longitudinal data.

The course will be composed of lectures and group work. Exercises will use examples and data from the German National Education Panel Study (NEPS) adult survey (for more information, see www.neps-data.de).

The course will be applicable to surveys of individuals and households.

Course and learning objectives:

By the end of the course participants will:

• be familiar with important international and German longitudinal surveys and their design features;
• understand different strategies on how to collect longitudinal data;
• know how to design retrospective and complex panel instruments;
• be able to evaluate quality aspects of a longitudinal survey;
• be familiar with all main stages of design and implementation of longitudinal surveys.

Course prerequisites:

• For this course, participants should have basic knowledge of survey methodology from a cross-sectional perspective, in particular with respect to sampling, questionnaire design and survey implementation.

Bedingungen der Prüfungsteilnahme

Regelmäßige Teilnahme, Bearbeiten von Übungsaufgaben währen der Veranstaltung und Kurzpräsentation der Ergebnisse aus der Gruppen- bzw. Einzelarbeit, Hausarbeit; es wird empfohlen, vorher mindestens die Veranstaltung Einführung in die Methoden der empirischen Sozialforschung sowie ein Proseminar im Methoden 2 Bereich besucht bzw. entsprechende Kenntnisse auf dem Gebiet der Survey Methoden zu haben.

Recommended reading:

• Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D. and Christian, L. M. (2008). Internet, Mail, and Mixed-Mode Surveys. The Tailored Design Method. Hoboken: Wiley.
• Groves, R. M., Fowler, F. J., Couper, M. P., Lepkowski, J. M., Singer, E. and Tourangeau, R. (2009). Survey Methodology. Hoboken: Wiley.
• Lynn, P. (2009). Methodology of Longitudinal Surveys. Chichester, UK: Wiley.