Health survey methods

Enseignants

Demarest Stefaan; Gisle Lydia; Lorant Vincent (coordinateur(trice));

Langue
d'enseignement

Anglais

Préalables

The course is limited to students having a good level of English.

Le(s) prérequis de cette Unité d’enseignement (UE) sont précisés à la fin de cette fiche, en regard des programmes/formations qui proposent cette UE.

Thèmes abordés

Evidence-based decision making in health policy requires to have health data readily available and monitored over time. One way to achieve this goal and obtain valid health-related information is to conduct health surveys. Such surveys also offer an important source of data for epidemiologic research as they allow estimating, amongst other, the prevalence of disorders in a specific population, the use of and access to health care services, the distribution of risky health behaviours across various population groups, or the observance of preventive behaviours. This course is intended to introduce students to the principles of survey methodology and practical aspects of survey design and implementation in the context of health research. It will allow students to conceive and design a survey to gather health-related information that meets a specific research question. This course is instrumental for all students planning to gather their own data/or use survey data in the context of their master or PhD thesis.

Acquis
d'apprentissage

A la fin de cette unité d’enseignement, l’étudiant est capable de :
1	·        Goal: By the end of this course, the student will have learned how to develop a complete survey protocol to answer a specific research question. More specifically, he/she will understand how to: ·        Formulate a research question and develop hypotheses that can be studied using survey methods. ·        Define a sampling frame and determine an appropriate sample method and sample size for a survey ·        Define and operationalize constructs and variables for survey research. ·        Select and evaluate scales and develop basic questions used in health-related surveys. ·        Develop and test a reliable and valid survey questionnaire. ·        Select and apply the mode of data-collection that best fits for a particular survey research. ·        Understand the advantages and disadvantages of new methods of data collection and develop a short web-based questionnaire. ·        Prepare the survey data for analysis (e.g. creating a data dictionary, checking for errors, data entry, data cleaning, etc.). Communicate the results of the survey to different audiences

Contenu

Survey protocol,
Instruments and development of questionnaire
Survey sampling
Data collection and web survey,
Essay presentation and discussion
Data management and communication of survey results
Evaluation

Méthodes d'enseignement

exposés, exercices, lectures et travail final. 

Modes d'évaluation
des acquis des étudiants

Assessment 
The evaluation of this course centers on the development of your own health survey protocol. You have the freedom to select the topic for your survey protocol, but it must be discussed and approved by your tutors. A dedicated lecture will be allocated to the presentation of the protocol under development, allowing for group discussions involving all students and lecturers. Detailed instructions for this exercise will be made available on the Moodle website at a later date.
Your survey protocol essay should encompass various aspects covered during this course, including conceptual definitions, sampling considerations, formulation of research questions, development of a questionnaire, and an outline of fieldwork procedures. Your protocols will be evaluated based on completeness, coherence, originality, and feasibility, taking into account budgetary and fieldwork organization considerations.
Your survey protocol is an individual project, and it should be uploaded to the Moodle platform one week before the end of the semester (please refer to the essay folder). Additionally, you will be required to present your protocol during the oral examination in January, with a strict time limit of 10 minutes and a maximum of 5 slides for your presentation. During the oral exam, we will discuss any limitations of the survey protocol as outlined in your essay.

Bibliographie

Aday LA, Cornelius LJ. Designing and conducting health surveys: a comprehensive guide. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006
Couper Mike, Designing effective web surveys, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2008.
Groves, RM et al. Survey Methodology, New Jersey : John Wiley 2004.

Support de cours

• Aday LA, Cornelius LJ. Designing and conducting health surveys: a comprehensive guide. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006

Faculté ou entité
en charge

FSP