Summer School in International Survey Methods

An 8-day, in-person intensive training program on the design, implementation, and analysis of surveys — with particular attention to research conducted outside the United States.

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About the Program

Held on Vanderbilt University's campus, the Summer School brings together a distinguished group of instructors who are leaders in global survey research. Through lectures, applied exercises, and discussion, participants gain hands-on exposure to best practices in international survey methodology — from questionnaire design and sampling to weighting, longitudinal surveys, and experiments.

Who Should Apply

The program is designed for graduate students, faculty, and research practitioners in the social sciences. Advanced undergraduates with relevant preparation are also welcome to apply.

How to Apply

The Call for Applications opens each January, with invitations sent in March or April. The program itself typically runs over 8 days in June, held on Vanderbilt University's campus in Nashville, TN. All participants are responsible for their travel to and from Nashville and for food expenses during the program.

Option 1

$2,000, including housing on Vanderbilt's campus

Option 2

$1,100, without housing — participants arrange their own accommodations

Example Program Schedule

Sessions run Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM, split into two sessions each day (9:30 AM–12:00 PM and 1:30–4:00 PM), confirmed from the 2026 syllabus. A different expert instructor teaches each day, combining lectures, discussion of assigned readings, and group-based workshops. The 8-day program spans two consecutive weeks — the 2026 cohort ran Monday, June 8 through Wednesday, June 17, with the intervening weekend off.

Day 1 - Introduction and Theories of Survey Response

Noam Lupu (Vanderbilt University, Center for Global Democracy & LAPOP Lab)
Day 2 - Questionnaire Design

Allyson Holbrook (University of Illinois Chicago)
Day 3 - Sampling

Daniel Montalvo (Vanderbilt University, Center for Global Democracy & LAPOP Lab)
Day 4 - Telephone and Online Surveys

Michael Robbins (Princeton University and Arab Barometer)
Day 5 - Scaling and Indexes

Efrén Pérez (University of California, Los Angeles)
Day 1 - Weighting and Imputation

Carole J. Wilson (Vanderbilt University, Center for Global Democracy & LAPOP Lab)
Day 7 - Survey Experiments

Taylor Boas (Boston University)
Day 8 - Longitudinal Surveys

Bryn Rosenfeld (Cornell University)