December 2014 - Methoden - mailman.uni-konstanz.de

ESRA 2015: CfP "Using Survey Data for Spatial Analysis"
by cornelia.thierbach＠tu-berlin.de 13 Dec '14

13 Dec '14

Dear Colleagues, we invite submissions to our session on "Using Survey Data for Spatial Analysis" at the 6th Conference of the European Survey Research Association (ESRA) in Reykjavik, Iceland, 13-17 July 2015. The session aims at exploring new developments in spatial meethods, seeing space either as dependent or independent variable: Researchers can ask how people think about space and construct space or they can see space as a relevant frame for social action that influences social life. Papers address one of the questions below either at a more general methodological level or using a concrete example in a specific research project: (1) How can survey data be used for spatial analysis? Can they be used by themselves, or do they have to be mixed with other data, e.g. geodata, qualitative data? (2) What methodological innovations concerning the spatial can be observed? (How) can traditional sociological or geographical methods be adjusted to address spatial problems within sociology? (3) Which sampling strategies are appropriate for spatial problems? (4) Which strategies of data analysis are appropriate for spatial analysis? Paper proposals must be submitted online by 15 January 2015 via the conference webpage: <http://www.europeansurveyresearch.org/conference> http://www.europeansurveyresearch.org/conference Please feel also free to distribute this Call to other persons who might be interested in presenting a paper. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Cornelia Thierbach, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany, <mailto:cornelia.thierbach@tu-berlin.de> cornelia.thierbach(a)tu-berlin.de Linda Hering, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany, <mailto:linda.hering@tu-berlin.de> linda.hering(a)tu-berlin.de Nina Baur, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany, <mailto:nina.baur@tu-berlin.de> nina.baur(a)tu-berlin.de

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ESRA 2015: CfP "Methods for Improving Causal Inference in the Social Sciences"
by Jochen Mayerl 12 Dec '14

12 Dec '14

Dear colleagues, We invite submissions to our session on "Methods for Improving Causal Inference in the Social Sciences" at the 6th Conference of the European Survey Research Association (ESRA) in Reykjavik, Iceland, 13-17 July 2015. Summary: The central aim of social sciences is to discover the causal effect of explanatory variables on various outcomes. However, in the case of most research questions we are restricted to quasi-experimental, observational and in particular cross sectional survey data. Under these conditions, the causal status of observed associations remains unclear, because of unobserved heterogeneity and reverse causation. At present the methodological tools for improving causal inference are not common knowledge. These tools are firstly different kinds of fixed-effects estimation (e.g. family or school fixed-effects) which exploits the within-variance of the respective units, eliminating the possibly endogenous between-variance. When longitudinal panel data is available, different methods like individual fixed effects panel regression, cross-lagged autoregressive models, latent growth curve models, and autoregressive latent trajectory models are used to decide on causality. Differences-in-differences estimators can be used on the aggregate level. Secondly, matching-techniques (e.g. propensity score matching) comparing the difference of similar members of the treatment and control group are feasible as well. Thirdly, instrumental variable approaches, utilizing exogenous determinants of the treatment condition to estimate causal effects. Fourthly, regression discontinuity techniques are used in order to exploit variance at the edge between strata of the explanatory variables. All these methods of causal analysis make certain assumptions, for instance no systematic missing data, the SUTVA-condition and unconfoundedness. In contrast to more common methods of analysis, the consequences of violations of these assumptions are much less analyzed. The same is true for decisions which have to be made when causal analyses are applied. For instance, which criterion should be used in the case of matching-techniques? How to judge the exogeneity and strength of an instrumental variable? This session invites methodological and empirical contributions which apply methods for improving causal inference in survey research, compares them to ��naive�� methods or presents progress in methodological issues. Proposals must be submitted online by 15 January 2015 via the conference webpage: <http://www.europeansurveyresearch.org/conference> http://www.europeansurveyresearch.org/conference If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Jochen Mayerl, TU Kaiserslautern, Germany, Jochen.Mayerl(a)sowi.uni-kl.de Volker Stock��, University of Kassel, Germany, <mailto:volker.stocke@uni-kassel.de> volker.stocke(a)uni-kassel.de Levente Littvay, Central European University, Hungary, littvayl@ceu�\ budapest.edu

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CfP "Using Paradata to Improve Survey Data Quality", ESRA 2015, Reykjavik
by Jochen Mayerl 12 Dec '14

12 Dec '14

Dear colleagues, We invite submissions to our session on "Using Paradata to Improve Survey Data Quality" at the 6th Conference of the European Survey Research Association (ESRA) in Reykjavik, Iceland, 13-17 July 2015. Summary: Paradata are measures generated as a by-product of the survey data collection process. Prominent examples of paradata are data available from the sampling frame, call-record data in CATI surveys, keystroke information from CAI, timestamp files, observations of interviewer behavior or respondents response latencies (see Kreuter 2013 for an overview). These data can potentially be used to enrich questionnaire responses or to provide additional information about the survey (non-)participation process. In many cases paradata are available at no (or little) additional cost, but the theoretical basis for using paradata as indicator for survey data quality is very underdeveloped. Some examples about the use of paradata are: Paradata in fieldwork monitoring and nonresponse research: Paradata are often used in the survey management context. With control charts survey practitioners can monitor fieldwork progress and interviewer performance. They are also indispensable in responsive designs as real-time information about fieldwork and survey outcomes which affect costs and errors. However, their role as indicator for interviewer or fieldwork effects, as well as predictors for nonresponse is unclear. Paradata to understand respondent behavior: Paradata might aid assessing of the quality of survey responses, e.g. by means of response latencies or back-tracking. Research has used paradata to identify uncertainty in the answers given by respondents, e.g., if respondents frequently alter their answers. In this new strand of research, however, indicators might still be confounded and tap into multiple dimensions of the response process (e.g., response latencies may be an indicator for retrieval problems and/or satisficing). Proposals must be submitted online by 15 January 2015 via the conference webpage: <http://www.europeansurveyresearch.org/conference> http://www.europeansurveyresearch.org/conference If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Volker Stocké, University of Kassel, Germany, <mailto:volker.stocke@uni-kassel.de> volker.stocke(a)uni-kassel.de. Jochen Mayerl, TU Kaiserslautern, Germany, <mailto:Jochen.Mayerl@sowi.uni-kl.de> Jochen.Mayerl(a)sowi.uni-kl.de. Oliver Lipps, Swiss Centre of Expertise in the Social Sciences (FORS), Lausanne, Switzerland, oliver.lipps(a)fors.unil.ch. Annelies Blom, University of Mannheim, Germany, blom(a)uni-mannheim.de

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Mitarbeiterstelle
by Josef Brüderl 09 Dec '14

09 Dec '14

Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, anbei schicke ich eine aktuelle Stellenausschreibung für einen Wiss. MA an meinem Lehrstuhl (2/3 Stelle), die Sie interessieren könnte. Die Bewerbungsfrist endet am 07. Janaur 2015. Beste Grüße Josef Brüderl -- Prof. Dr. Josef Brüderl University of Munich Department of Sociology Konradstr.6 D-80801 Munich Tel.: +49 - 89 - 2180 6416 (Sec. 2923) bruederl(a)lmu.de http://www.ls3.soziologie.uni-muenchen.de

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ESRA 2015 - CfP: Push2Web vs. Nudge2Web
by Henning Best 08 Dec '14

08 Dec '14

Dear Colleagues, The 6th Conference of the European Survey Research Association (ESRA) is taking place in Reykjavik, Iceland, July 13-17, 2015. We invite you to submit papers to our session on "Push2Web and Nudge2Web: Combining Mail and Online Survey Modes to Reduce Survey Errors and Survey Cost". The call for papers closes on *January 15th 2015*. An abstract of our session appears at the end of this email. Further information on ESRA 2015 is available at http://www.europeansurveyresearch.org/conference Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions on our session. We are looking forward to seeing you in Reykjavik! Best regards, Henning, Michael and Tanja *Push2Web and Nudge2Web* Combining Mail and Online Survey Modes to Reduce Survey Errors and Survey Cost Convenor Henning Best (University of Wuerzburg) Coordinator 1 Michael Bosnjak (GESIS) Coordinator 2 Tanja Dannwolf (GESIS) The sharp decline in telephone survey response rates has strongly increased the need for alternative ways for surveying the general public. Web surveys with offline recruiting are a potentially promising option, but at the moment internet use and coverage is still limited. As a possible solution to this problem, Dillman and Colleagues have recently suggested using a sequential mixed-mode design combining mail and web survey modes (see e.g. Messer & Dillman 2011). The key idea is to initially contacting the respondents by mail, ´pushing´ them to the web mode (Push2Web) and finally providing a paper questionnaire as a last resort to avoid unit nonresponse. The type of mode the respondents are expected to participate in is under the control of the researcher. Another conceivable strategy is to leave the mode choice to the respondents, and using various strategies ´nudging´ them to the web mode (Nudge2Web). While these approaches appear promising, important questions on survey errors and biases (coverage, sampling, nonresponse, measurement) and survey costs, as well as questions of practical survey management remain understudied. This session is aimed at bringing together pertinent research and recent experiences on combining offline recruitment and mixed-mode (especially mail+web) surveys from Europe, and encourages submissions about the impact of various Push2Web or Nudge2Web strategies on survey errors and costs. -- Prof. Dr. Henning Best Chair of Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences Institute of Political Science and Sociology University of Würzburg Wittelsbacherplatz 1 D - 97074 Würzburg E-Mail: henning.best(a)uni-wuerzburg.de

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Ausschreibung Professor Empirische Sozialforschung in Graz
by Wolf, Christof 03 Dec '14

03 Dec '14

Lieber Kollege, liebe Kollegin, anbei schicke ich Ihnen/Dir den Ausschreibungstext für die Professur "Empirische Sozialforschung" an der Universität Graz. Ich ersuche Sie/Dich, Berufskollegen und -kolleginnen, die an dieser Stelle interessiert sein könnten, auf die Ausschreibung aufmerksam zu machen. Mit besten Grüßen Franz Höllinger ------------------------------------------ a.o.Univ.Prof. Dr. Franz Höllinger Institut für Soziologie Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz Universitätsstrasse 15/G4 A-8010 Graz Tel. **43-316-380-3543

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