This training course builds practical capacity in using cognitive interviewing to improve the measurement of gender‑related social statistics. Participants learn how to detect and reduce measurement error in survey questions through a structured combination of theory, hands‑on workshops, and real‑world gender examples. Over three days, the course covers questionnaire design, cognitive interviewing techniques, systematic question appraisal, data analysis, and reporting, while also introducing extensions such as translation testing and mode‑effect assessment. By the end of the course, participants are able to design, conduct, and analyse cognitive interviews for their own surveys, with a strong focus on gender‑sensitive data quality.
Type of professionals: Staff of National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) and other producers of official statistics, including survey methodologists, social statisticians, questionnaire designers, gender statistics experts, and researchers involved in survey development, testing, and quality assessment.
Geographic focus: Primarily European Statistical System (ESS) countries, with relevance also for participants from candidate countries, ENP countries, and international organisations working with European or comparable social statistics.
Discipline: Official statistics, survey methodology, social statistics, gender statistics, and applied social research, with a specific focus on questionnaire design and qualitative survey testing methods (cognitive interviewing).
Timing and duration
01.12.2026-03.12.2026
3 consecutive full days intensive course.
Location and format
UNU-MERIT / Face-to-face
