Total Survey Design
Episodes
Writing Good Survey Questions - Part 3. Open-Ended Questions
21 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I will be talking about open-ended questions. Along with closed-ended questions, open-ended questions are the other major type of que...
Ice Cream, Ballots, and the Science of Being First
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when you are faced with a list of options but do not have a strong preference? In this episode, I explore how the simple order of a list ...
Intro to Survey Design for Marketing Research Students
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a live guest lecture recorded for a Marketing Research class at Washington State University. The guest lecture is meant to introduce ...
Forced Choice vs Neutral Options: Why Forcing Choices May Damage Your Data
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Total Survey Design Podcast, I explore whether to include a neutral midpoint option in survey questions or force respondents to...
Forced Questions
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Should you ever force respondents to answer a survey question? In this episode of Total Survey Design, I examine forced questions. While these feature...
Can Generative AI Help Design a Better Questionnaire?
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Total Survey Design podcast, I put generative AI to the test by asking it to critique and improve the Microsoft Word Feedback s...
Trump & Rogan vs. Survey Sampling: Addendum
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this bonus episode of the Total Survey Design podcast, I follow up on Trump and Rogan’s polling critiques with a listener email highlighting nonr...
Trump & Rogan vs. Survey Sampling: What They Got Right, And Totally Wrong
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of the Total Survey Design podcast, I examine an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, #2219, which aired on October 25th, 2024...
Episode Title: Designing a Feedback Survey From Scratch
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Azdren creates a feedback survey from scratch, showing the process from idea formation, to messy first draft of the questionnaire, to...
Survey Weighting: When It Helps And When It Hurts
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of the Total Survey Design podcast demystifies the statistical technique of survey weighting (or post-stratification), explaining how it ...
Nonresponse Error. Part 1 - Response Rate vs. Nonresponse Error
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode explains the important distinction between response rate and nonresponse error in survey research. Drawing on principles from Dillman et ...
A Conversation with Mark Miazga, Director of University Survey & Assessment Services at U of Minnesota
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the hosts speak with Mark Miazga, Director of University Survey and Assessment Services at the University of Minnesota, about his jou...
A Conversation with Rob Santos, U.S. Census Bureau Director
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk with Robert Santos, Director of the U.S. Census Bureau from 2022 to 2025, about his professional journey and philosophy towar...
A Critique of Microsoft Word’s Feedback Survey
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I talk about a survey I didn’t plan to analyze—one that popped up the moment I opened Microsoft Word. Microsoft asked for feedbac...
An Interview with Jon Krosnick on Survey Design, Public Opinion, and Scientific Rigor
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Total Survey Design, Dr. Azdren Coma and Dr. Seon Yup Lee interview Dr. Jon Krosnick, a leading expert on political behavior, surve...
An Interview with Thom Allen
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I sat down with Thom to talk about surveys. We talked about his time at the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center, working with...
Season 1 Finale
22 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we do a small retrospective on the first season. We also look ahead to see what is to come. We also give a call to action, seeking yo...
Essential Considerations When Creating a Survey
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore essential considerations for crafting effective surveys. We begin by emphasizing the importance of defining the purpose ...
The Target Population
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we discuss the target population. We emphasize the importance of a well-defined target population, in context of the goal of your sur...
An Interview with James McCall, Survey Methodologist
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we interview James McCall, a survey methodologist at Westat. James shares what first drew him to surveys, and what drove him into a c...
Design Elements - Progress Bars, Back Buttons, Forced Responses, and More!
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the key design elements of effective surveys, emphasizing the importance of user-friendly experiences and reliable data co...
A Conversation About the Trust and Distrust of Surveys
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we introduce a new free talk segment, where we discuss and celebrate Seon Yup's new job as chief survey methodologist at Kansas ...
The Monetary Costs of Conducting Surveys - Part 1
04 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the costs associated with conducting surveys. We start by debunking the common misconception that surveys are free, highli...
Sample Design - Part 2. The Sampling Frame
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In our second episode focusing on sample design, we dive into the intricacies of creating a sampling frame. We explain what a sampling frame is and wh...
Writing Good Survey Questions - Part 2. Response Options
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is the second in a series of writing good survey questions, where we dive deep into the intricacies of response options for survey questi...
Writing Good Survey Questions - Part 1. Base Questions
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we delve into the art of crafting effective survey questions. We discuss the importance of clear and precise wording, avoiding biases...
The Total Survey Design Method - Reducing Costs, Increasing Benefits, and How to Get the Best Data!
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the Total Survey Design Method to maximize data quality. Discover how reducing errors, rooted in social exchange theory, c...
Don Dillman – A Reflection in Memoriam
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a tribute and commemoration of Don Dillman, who is known for his contributions to survey methodology, particularly the development of ...
The Four Sources of Survey Error
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Total Survey Design Podcast, we explore the four main sources of survey error through the engaging story of Mario, a local pizz...
Sample Design - Part 1. Sample Size - or why just over 1000 responses is enough to generalize findings to millions of people!
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Total Survey Design Podcast, we explore the fascinating concept of sample size and its impact on survey accuracy. Discover why ...
How to Lie with Surveys
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, hosts Seon Yup Lee and Azdren Coma explore the ways surveys can mislead us, inspired by the book "How to Lie with Maps." Th...
The Utility of Surveys
19 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Total Survey Design Podcast, Seon Yup and Azdren dive into the utility of surveys and their vital role in understanding public ...
Intro to the Podcast
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this debut episode of "Total Survey Design," hosts Azdren Coma and Seon Yup Lee introduce listeners to the intricacies and importance of ...
Total Survey Design Trailer
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to this episode to get a preview of everything that the Total Survey Design podcast is all about.Support the showFind us online at: instagram.c...