Dr. Vaness Torres van Grinsven offers workshops and seminars on request to, for example, teams that want to get to know more about a topic or want to work on a topic together. Below you will find a few examples of possible subjects. The content of courses may be discussed and adapted to your wishes. Other possible topics for courses are possible too. Feel free to contact us to discuss your interests.
Possible topics for a workshop or seminar are, for instance:
Questionnaire Construction
This workshop focuses on the design of questions and questionnaires used in scientific research, dealing with practical and theoretical issues. The workshop addresses the whole process of questionnaire design: from translating theoretical concepts into measurable items up to the lay-out of the questionnaire. Discussion will involve the measurement of both subjective and objective phenomena and the use of self-completion questionnaires versus interviewer administered questionnaires. Topics may include guidelines for question-construction to ensure respondent comprehension; the effects of question wording, response formats, and question sequence on responses; combining individual questions into a meaningful questionnaire; and obtaining sensitive or personal information.
Observation Techniques
In this workshop observation is discussed as a scientific method of data gathering. Various types of observation are discussed, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of observation in different research settings. Participants get acquainted with methodological aspects of observation (sampling, access to sites, observation schedules, field notes) and learn to draw conclusions from the materials.
Interviewing Techniques
This workshop is useful for researchers who would like to know more about the interview as a scientific method of data collection. Activities in this course may be: to discuss theoretical knowledge about the interview as a scientific way of data generation; identify the main characteristics of the interview as a scientific method of data collection; compare the interview with other methods of data-collection; design an interview guide by operationalizing research questions into interview topics, main questions and follow-up questions; conduct an interview using the interview guide; construction of an interview guide; pre-test of an interview guide; practical interviewing skills training. We will discuss how to: reflect on your own performance in conducting an interview; critically judge the Quality of an interview conducted by somebody else.
Qualitative data analysis: approaches and techniques
Different approaches to qualitative data analysis, as well as techniques can be discussed. This can be done using two different software programmes for qualitative Analysis: Atlas.ti and NVivo.
Research design & research methods
Based on the needs of the applicant, in this workshop attention can be given to different phases fo the research process. This can be, for instance, research design (conceptual and technical design), formulating research objectives and research questions, operationalization of concepts, methods for data collection, methods for data analysis, and writing the report.