30 Minute Talks on Research: Should we trust survey findings?

Surveys are ubiquitous. Survey findings are frequently quoted by politicians, commentators, advisors, businesses, news media and on social media. But should we believe them? And what do they mean? The accuracy of survey findings depends primarily on who the data were collected from (the sample), what data were collected (the measures) and how they were collected (the measurement method). A considerable body of research exists into the effects of various aspects of survey methods on the quality of subsequent findings. Much of this research has been carried out here at Essex by our world-leading survey methods team. This presentation will provide an overview of the kinds of research that we carry out and some findings that have influenced survey practice. I will also briefly give some insights into career opportunities for survey methodologists.

This talk will follow The World's Rusts Belts at 1.30pm with Dr Michel Serafinelli, Department of Economics