Survey Methods - PBC

About This Certificate

Surveys are a common method of learning about people’s preferences, opinions, and experiences.

The Survey Methods graduate certificate provides students with experience in both conducing and analyzing survey data. Students acquire hands-on experience developing and implementing the Utah Population and Environment Panel or other surveys conducted by USU researchers and end their program with a piece of published work aimed at either a popular, policy, or academic audience. This experience is valuable for students aiming for academic careers, as well as those interested in careers in public policy analysis, marketing, public opinion research, and the non-profit sector.

What You Will Learn

This certificate is designed to teach four core competencies:

• Survey design. You will learn to craft appropriate survey instruments to answer your research questions, including techniques such as question wording, placement, and flow.
• Survey implementation. You will learn common approaches to sampling and the strengths and limitations to different types of survey (online, drop-off/pick-up, in person, and others).
• Data analysis. You will develop skills in statistical analysis of survey data. Options range from learning basic descriptive and inferential statistics to the analysis of complex, longitudinal data sets, depending on your background and interests.
• Data visualization and research communication. You will have the opportunity to present survey results in a written publication under the guidance of a faculty mentor.