Early-Career Scholars Learn Survey Methods in Migration Research

​Survey-based research is widespread, yet replete with challenges. Researchers face a range of analytical, technical, managerial, and ethical dilemmas. Drawing on extensive experience and MIGNEX methods, MIGNEX Director Jørgen Carling and WP10 Leader Jessica Hagen-Zanker have developed a new PhD-level course on survey methods, with a focus on migration research.

The course was taught in Oslo 7–9 September and covered the entire survey process, including research design, technical solutions, data management, quality assurance and communication of results. It drew upon ongoing survey research in MIGNEX and FUMI projects.

"It was a great opportunity to share some of the lessons we have from running the MIGNEX survey, from management of data collection and designing survey instruments to some of the challenges during data cleaning. Many of our practical exercises were also based on MIGNEX data and experiences and the students appreciated having real life examples." - Jessica Hagen-Zanker

​Funding for the course came from the Research Council of Norway’s grant to PRIO’s migration research under its programme for support to leading social-science research environments (SAMEVAL). The twenty participants included PhD candidates as well as other early-career scholars. Nine were based in Norway and eleven came from other European countries and the United States.

At the end of the course, participants highlighted the value of first-hand accounts from leading researchers of the challenges they have encountered and the solutions they have developed in their own research.

Practical insights into how MIGNEX approached the analytical, technical, managerial, and ethical aspects of data collection can be found in our Handbook Chapters.

This news piece was originally published by Peace Research Institute Oslo, here. Re-published with edits by Hannah Murray for MIGNEX.