C4.M1How-to Make a Questionnaire and Conduct an Interview

Course description:

Researchers in Engineering frequently apply data gathering methods from the social sciences. Many PhD candidates in engineering include testing their ideas, models or products with potential users or experts in their research projects. This workshop aims at outlining how data needed for this kind of research can be gathered in a scientifically sound way.
We will discuss the following questions using practical examples: 

• When do I choose my method and which methods are available and appropriate for my research?
• How do I structure an interview?
• How do I set up a questionnaire and how do I construct meaningful scales?
• How do I align my data gathering and data analysis?

Learning objectives:

Taking part in the workshop will provide the participants with:

• understanding of the basic principles of social science methods of data gathering;
• the ability to structure an interview or questionnaire;
• the ability to formulate effective questions for interviews and questionnaires.

Teaching Methods

The workshops use the following formats:

• short introductions to the themes followed by group work;
• exercises and the sharing of experience;
• take-home assignments and feedback.

Course Enrolment

To register for the course, please send an email to E.Arkesteijn-vanSchaik@remove-this.tudelft.nl

About the Lecturer(s)/Coach(es)

Erik de Graaff is a professor in problem based learning at Aalborg University in Denmark and an associate professor in Delft University of Technology. He has a background in psychology and has been doing research into engineering education for the past 20 years. He has been teaching methodology courses.

Maartje van den Bogaard is an academic staff member at the section of System’s Engineering and has a background in education science. Before joining DUT she worked as a researcher in social scientific policy research. She has been teaching interview techniques for the past 4 years. Currently pursuing a PHD degree in Delft University of Technology.