Surveylab

Since April 2008, the Department of Sociology runs a surveylab for conducting computer based telephone (CATI) and computer assisted web interviews (CAWI). Furthermore, guided telephone interviews can be realized. The handling of these survey instruments as well as the data preparation and the analysis are key competences of empirical social research.

For this reason, our laboratory is primarily used for teaching purposes but it can be used also for own research. The laboratory offers introduction courses for students and training opportunities for interested people as well as research internships and the possibility of data acquisition and data export in all commonly used formats.

In addition, the laboratory is available to external research institutions according to prior agreement and compensation of costs.

Range of services

Technical equipment:

5 interview stations (including. 1 supervisor station) are equipped with

• powerful, networked computers and flat screens
• modern survey software by VOXCO
• comfortable headsets, including mini amplifier ( for volume control)
• analog telephone devices
• audio records for digital recording
• sound absorbing movable walls for optimal acoustics

Due to browser-based software, a temporary lease of additional interviewer or web licenses is not possible.

Services:

Professional support before, during and after the field phase includes

• support for the questionnaire design, especially with regard to CATI-/CAWI suitability
• questionnaire programming
• detailed pretests
• possibly supervision
• export of data in commonly used formats (e.g. Stata, R, SPSS, Excel)
• plus software- and interview trainings

If you are interested in using the surveylab please contact Marc Schwenzer.