SSRI Fall Workshops Are Open for Registration!
SSRI’s Fall 2025 workshop lineup is here, covering everything from evaluation and survey design to qualitative methods and power analysis. Sessions are offered via Zoom, with select in-person options in Gross Hall.
Evaluation for Improvement and Impact
(Sept. 12, 9:00 am-11:30 am, Zoom)
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Instructors: Erin Hasely and Jess Sperling
This session offers an overview of program evaluation and evaluation research, or the systematic investigation of the merit, worth, or significance of an entity/initiative. Topics covered will include: when and why to engage in evaluation; types of evaluations; key aspects of an evaluation, including logic model development, data sources and data collection, analysis and reporting, and guiding resultant programmatic change; and tips for feasibly and effectively implementing evaluation in an entity or initiative. This is for faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, or others who are interested in evaluation and related partnered/applied research; individuals working in initiatives or entities that are looking utilize evaluation to inform decision-making.
*Co-Sponsored by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute
Introduction to Survey Design
(Sept. 19, 12-2 pm, Zoom + Gross Hall 230C)
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Instructor: Alex Tolkin
This Duke Initiative on Survey Methodology (DISM) workshop will explore the fundamentals of survey design. The emphasis will be on providing practical survey design tips to those looking to develop their own surveys, or to evaluate proposals for surveys to be conducted by vendors. Topics explored in the workshop include determining if a survey is the appropriate design, considering the trade-offs to data quality that arise in the survey design process, identifying sources of error when sampling and surveying respondents, and more.
Qualitative Data Collection
(Oct. 3, 9:00 am -11:00 am, Zoom)
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Instructors: Marissa Personette and Elena Johanson
Provides an introduction to a range of qualitative research methods as well as an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Qualitative research methods, including in-depth interviews, focus groups, archival analysis, and participant observation, vary considerably in the resources and time required to execute them reliably, and in the types of data they generate. Which data collection techniques are appropriate to which kinds of research questions and projects, and how do you execute these methods well? How are issues of reliability and validity considered and weighed in qualitative research? We will also explore different ways of managing your data prior to commencing data collection in order to facilitate the transition to data analysis. Time will be given to the role of NVivo software in facilitating data management and preparing for data analysis.
Power Analysis for Empirical Research: Why it Matters and How to Get Started
(Oct. 13, 12:00-2:00 pm, Zoom)
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Instructor: Kunalan Manokara
Figuring out the right sample size for empirical research is a balancing act: collecting too little data might lead to insufficient power for detecting an effect, while oversampling can be a costly affair. This workshop seeks to demystify the process of power analysis, and introduce researchers to concrete tools that could help them make informed judgments about sample sizes. Computational techniques that are relevant for commonly used research designs in the social sciences will be discussed (e.g., power analyses for moderation and mediation). Taken together, this introductory workshop would be beneficial for researchers seeking a basic understanding of statistical power, and how it can be efficiently applied to their own work.
Survey Design in Qualtrics
(Oct. 31, 12-2 pm, Zoom + Gross Hall 230C)
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Instructor: Alex Tolkin
Offers an introduction to Qualtrics survey software, a package available (at no cost to researchers) for use across Duke’s campus and medical center. This powerful, easy-to-use system is a great way to collect information online, whether as part of a research protocol or for administrative purposes, such as program evaluation. This workshop will introduce participants to the Qualtrics system, demonstrate how to set up an account, create a questionnaire and access its results. It will also cover some basic tools that can be used to customize the questionnaire to fit your needs, such as using display and skip logic to collect more detailed information from a subset of your audience.
Community-Engaged and Community-Partnered Research
(Nov. 7, 9:00 am-10:30 am, Zoom)
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Instructor: Jess Sperling
Engaging and partnering with community members and entities in research, sometimes in the form of research practice partnership, can be a powerful mechanism for ensuring research is appropriately situated within the context and utilized for social change. These concepts and processes are highly complex, and often quite challenging, both in theory and in practice. This session will introduce the meaning of “community-engaged research” and related terms, explore their relevance for both researchers and communities, and consider recommendations for enacting best practices.
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DUKE LIBRARIES WORKSHOPS
Duke Libraries Center for Data and Visualization Sciences welcomes everyone to a new semester filled with opportunities for data driven research. CDVS offers online and in-person data consulting, instruction, and co-curricular support for all members of the Duke community. We look forward to connecting with you online and working with you to achieve your research goals!
CDVS offers 23 workshops covering topics ranging from data science to data visualization to data management.