Graduates with Ph.D. and Masters in Survey Research methodologies have a high demand the job market. They can secure handsomely paying jobs in top government departments, agencies, private corporations, and international organizations. For instance, in the USA, the federal government spends an average of $4 billion annually on social and economic information collection and dissemination. Besides, the government has employed about 12,000 staff in this field of survey and research. Further, the USA commercial sector offers employment opportunities to survey Research Corporations and firms spending an annual gross of $10-$15 billion and employs over 45,000 technical staff members.
What kind of job do Survey and Research Specialist do?
This is a fundamental question as far as the survey and research field is concerned. Survey methodologists are responsible for the development of testing methods in their field of specialty. As such, they are engaged in all perspectives of survey processes, selecting and designing questionnaires, administration of field procedures, interview respondents, mitigate level and extent of non-response, examine survey privacy and confidentiality strategies, process collected data and explore new and historical statistical estimation techniques.
Besides, they work in laboratories with subjects and develop strategies to use in the statistical field. They work hand in hand with scientists teams to develop methods of a particular study, evaluate survey methods, and make reliable and efficient sample selection. While in the field of practice, they are responsible for training interviewers, observe field tests of survey instruments, administer, and oversee large-scale data collection processes.
What background is required in this field of specialty?
Survey Research training is a field of practice where interested individuals with training as data science, statistics, and the study of human social behavior. In this field, the substantive or rich background is not essential and what is essential is having the right methodological skill set. Notably, whichever the background, survey research, and training is a quantitative research method, and mathematical knowledge is essential. For instance, having more in-depth background in sociology and psychology is inevitable as in this field, this knowledge is important to be applied in challenging problems, decision making, responding to requests and in predicting sample behavior. As such, entering students must have solid calculus sequence especially in undergraduate level and an introductory in statistical method course.
In summary, Survey research training is an essential course like it in high demand in the job market, and handsomely pays. Interested individuals must have a deep background in statistical methods and mathematical calculus. Besides, knowledge of sociology and psychology is essential.
