Harvard Program on Survey Research Spring Conference

Harvard Program on Survey Research Spring Conference

New Technologies and Survey Research

May 9, 2008
9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Institute for Quantitative Social Science
Room N354
Harvard University
1737 Cambridge St.
Cambridge, MA 02138

New technologies have changed the way people communicate with each other, and they present new challenges and new opportunities for researchers. This conference will focus on the challenges as well as the opportunities of these new technologies for survey research.

We will explore how strategies and standards for reaching respondents are changing in the face of new technological challenges. We will also learn about new laws and regulations about the use of these technologies and discuss how they may affect research practice. One session will look at the challenges and opportunities posed by the Internet, focusing both on the accuracy of volunteer Internet samples and on the opportunities for survey research presented by Web 2.0. Another session looking at mobile phones will discuss the widespread growth of this technology, and the challenges this presents for survey research. The session will also review methods of sampling and interviewing mobile telephone users.

Continental Breakfast 8:30 - 9:00

Welcome and Introduction 9:00-9:10
Sunshine Hillygus
Harvard University

Web 2.0 and Survey Research 9:10 - 10:00
Mick Couper
University of Michigan

Coffee Break 10:00 - 10:15

Conducting Surveys on the Internet 10:15 - 12:15

How (and how not) to Use the Internet for Survey Research
Doug Rivers and Simon Jackman
Stanford University

The Accuracy of Non-Probability Samples of People Who Volunteer to Do Surveys for Money
Jon Krosnick
Stanford University

Lunch 12:15 – 1:15

Trends in Research and Regulation 1:15 - 3:15
Strategies and Standards for Reaching Respondents in an age of New Technology.
Tom Guterbock
University of Virginia

Technology Regulation and Survey Research
LaToya R. Lang, Esq.
State Legislative Director
Council of Market and Opinion Research

Coffee Break 3:15 - 3:30

Technology Focus: Mobile Phones 3:30 5:30

Survey Research and Cell Phones: Is There A Problem?
Scott Keeter
Pew Research Center

Solving The Problems Cell Phones Create for Survey Research
Michael Link
AC Nielsen

Reception 5:30 - 6:00

Please RSVP to Chase Harrison at charrison@gov.harvard.edu