Best Survey Methodology Podcasts (2025)

1
Zero Bills Homes: a new building standard for residential construction? With Nigel Banks and Emma Fletcher (Octopus Energy) 1:21:00

5d ago1:21:00

1:21:00

In this episode we're talking about Zero Bills Homes, so we welcome back Nigel Banks, this time accompanied by his Octopus colleague Emma Fletcher*. We're not directly talking Fabric Fifth again but the concept is central to the Octopus zero bills strategy i.e. prioritising decarbonising energy use and reducing the cost of energy use rather than fo…

1
An Interview with Jon Krosnick on Survey Design, Public Opinion, and Scientific Rigor 58:24

5d ago58:24

58:24

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, survey methodology, and public opinion. Dr. Krosnick is a professor at Stanford University who has advised the U.S. Census Bureau, led national studies on voting behavior and climate change, and published …

1
Retrofit rescue: lessons learned from fixing a disastrous programme of works in Fishwick, with Filipe Amarante and Joanna Curtis (National Energy Action) 1:29:55

19d ago1:29:55

1:29:55

This episode is all about a retrofit programme gone wrong in Preston and the effort required to fix it. It's a story that was covered in the pages of Passive House Plus back in 2018 under the headline "Disastrous Preston retrofit scheme remains unresolved" and until recently we thought it remained unresolved. We're joined by Filipe Amarante and Joa…

1
Moisture: the bane of all buildings (also breathability, sweatability, and vapour), with Valentina Marincioni (UCL) and Toby Cambray (Greengauge) 1:24:46

1M ago1:24:46

1:24:46

We are joined by Valentina Marincioni (UCL, UKCMB) and returning guest Toby Cambray (Greengauge) to talk about the bane of all buildings: moisture. Recently, they they’ve produced a simple explainer video about "breathability" in buildings for the UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings. Given Jeff's proclivity for referring to the 'sweatability' of bu…

1
Battery storage, lancing boilers, and decentralised energy grids: a Decent way to manage your electricity, with Tom Cox and Sally Sattary (Decent Energy) 1:09:16

2M ago1:09:16

1:09:16

By Jeff and Dan

1
Translating retrofit for normal people, with retrofit influencer Judith Leary Joyce (Eco Home Retrofit) 1:27:38

2M ago1:27:38

1:27:38

This episode is a window into the consumer side of domestic retrofit that’s full of lessons for everyone involved in the retrofit sector. We speak with retrofit influencer Judith Leary Joyce about the experience of undergoing a deep retrofit and learning how to communicate about the subject with normal people. She talks us through her journey from …

1
Embodied carbon and how sustainable is MMC? With Richard O'Hegarty (RKD, UCD) and Oliver Kinnane (UCD) 1:26:46

3M ago1:26:46

1:26:46

Returning champions Richard O'Hegarty and Oliver Kinnane join us to discuss a recently co-authored paper: Understanding the embodied carbon credentials of modern methods of construction (MMC). Get ready for a long meandering discussion that gets into what they learned and what they think about accounting practices for embodied carbon, as well as pl…

1
Can we meet the skills gap the way we currently deliver training and what is the purpose of education? With Nathan Gambling (BetaTalk and BetaTeach) 1:12:15

3M ago1:12:15

1:12:15

For this episode we were joined by Nathan Gambling. For those that are new to him, he's heating engineer of some repute, a renowned educator, and a fellow podcaster. The episode revolves around the nature of education and learning, the skills gap—specifically focusing on heat pump and retrofit education—and a post that Nathan put up a few weeks ago…

1
An Interview with Thom Allen 1:00:51

3M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

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 Don Dillman on various projects including the 2000 U.S. Census, some of his favorite projects, my dissertation survey, the application of the Tailored Design Method on a wide variety of cultures, and…

1
There is methodology for defining what ‘net zero carbon’ means for buildings in the UK and it looks great, with Jess Hrivnak (RIBA), Jane Anderson (ConstructionLCA), and Julie Godefroy (CIBSE) 43:13

3M ago43:13

43:13

This time around we're talking about the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS) with three of its architects: Jess Hrivnak (RIBA), Jane Anderson (ConstructionLCA), and Julie Jodefroy (CIBSE). The UKNZCBS is the first cross-industry standard for net zero carbon-aligned buildings, albeit in a pilot form. The standard has been developed to en…

1
A 'global' standard for residential retrofit? With Paul Bagust (RICS Head of Property Standards), Steven Lees (RICS Senior Specialist - Residential Survey), and Robert Toomey (RICS Senior Public Affairs ... 1:22:50

4M ago1:22:50

1:22:50

Last year the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) released its residential retrofit standard. Given that they're one of the construction industry's oldest, largest, and most influential institutions this felt significant. Importantly, the RICS organisation has a global footprint, so it has the potential to influence good behaviour far a…

1
Can we address the decarbonisation of homes by focusing on health? With Jenny Danson (Healthy Homes Hub) 1:06:04

5M ago1:06:04

1:06:04

Can we address the decarbonisation of homes by focusing on health? That's the mission that Jenny Danson has set for herself in establishing Healthy Homes Hub, and it's a question that manages to subvert Betteridge's Law of headlines, too. Healthy Homes Hub is a network, built around an online platform, that's dedicated to transforming the way peopl…

1
Innovating and maturing: Loco Home Retrofit is an "emerging" retrofit one-stop-shop, with co-founder Chris Carus 1:08:28

5M ago1:08:28

1:08:28

Joining us on Zero Ambitions this week is Chris Carus co-founder of Loco Home Retrofit, a Glasgow-based 'emerging one-step shop'. Loco Home Retrofit is a retrofit operation that's most interesting for its approach to developing a viable retrofit offer, focused on building trust in communities and with its supply chain as a means to catalysing the d…

1
Eliminate construction waste – Loop Your Spare instead: circular thinking and platform technology that reduces the cost of construction for everyone, with Jay Stuart 1:13:11

6M ago1:13:11

1:13:11

The first episode of January 2025 marks the long overdue, first appearance of Jay Stuart, a long-time friend and colleague of Jeff and a firm fixture of the green building scene in Ireland. Jay joined us to talk about his latest project: Loop Your Spare. It’s a SaaS platform designed to match 'spare' construction materials with projects that need t…

1
Speeding up external wall insulation installation and preparing a retrofit start-up for scale, with Max Bloomfield (VundaHaus) and Alex Whitcroft (KIN; VundaHaus) 1:11:18

6M ago1:11:18

1:11:18

What's it like trying to scale a retrofit start-up? This episode welcomes Max Bloomfield and Alex Whitcroft, two of the folks from VundaHaus, to talk about their product, its ongoing design and development, and their preparations to scale the business as they raise funds from investors. VundaHaus designs and manufactures a rapid-fit insulation solu…

1
Experiments in low-carbon retrofit for a high-status building (with a basement), with Natalie Black (Enbee Architecture + Design) and Toby McLean (Allt Environmental Structural Engineers) 1:22:39

7M ago1:22:39

1:22:39

This week's episode is all about the lessons learned in carrying out a low-carbon retrofit. Natalie Black (Enbee Architecture + Design) and Toby McLean (Allt Environmental Structural Engineers) joined us to talk through their experiments and experiences on the renovation of a derelict house in Muswell Hill, London that was shortlisted for the Archi…

1
Why we need to tell better stories about the built environment, with Liz Male (LMC) 1:15:35

7M ago1:15:35

1:15:35

Our guest, Liz Male has been on our radar for a while. She is a figure who has been working in the construction sector since the 1990s, an ally to the sustainability sector, a great communicator, and an experienced thinker. When we met earlier in the year we talked about a lot of things, but the consistent theme of our conversation was 'why we need…

1
Don't Waste Buildings, which means retrofitting them and building them better. With Leanne Tritton (Ing Media), Will Hurst (Architect's Journal), and Richard Nelson (Abyss Global) 1:25:56

8M ago1:25:56

1:25:56

Apologies for the delay, the lost podcast has been returned and is ready for release. 'Don't Waste Buildings' should be a straightforward proposition. It seems obvious. Especially so in the face of the climate crisis. Unfortunately, the business of the built environment is not yet on board completely. Our guests for this episode are the founders of…

1
Performance guarantees, measuring what works, and EPC reform, with Steven Heath (Knauf Insulation) 1:27:43

9M ago1:27:43

1:27:43

This week we're speaking with Steven Heath, technical director at Knauf Insulation (UK and Ireland) and a really interesting and experienced person in the sector. So while we had him, we ran through a bunch of our favourite hoary subjects: measuring performance, performance guarantees, and what we think about EPCs. Knauf is a firm that's done some …

1
Sustainability, sufficiency, and sequestration – the language we use and what it means, with Lloyd Alter 1:08:21

9M ago1:08:21

1:08:21

A long-overdue episode with friend of the show, Lloyd Alter, about a blog he wrote and his book "The Story of Upfront Carbon". We get into the language of sustainability, carbon, and lots of the words that are ubiquitous in this space (sustainability and the built environment, obviously). We get into the sustainability of travel, to some extent too…

1
Season 1 Finale 5:07

9M ago5:07

5:07

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 your support to ensure that this project continues to exist into the future. If you would like to support us, you can do so by visiting our Ko-fi page at: https://ko-fi.com/totalsurveydesign Thank you. …

1
Developers can build sustainably and at scale, if they want to. With Nicola Cronin and Stephen O'Shea (Cairn Homes Plc) 1:11:20

10M ago1:11:20

1:11:20

A wise woman once said: "sustainability is the doing, ESG is the talking about it". Today an Irish house-building giant has made a major move on Passive House — publishing a positioning paper and announcing the ongoing construction of over 1,700 homes to the standard. Joining us to talk about this are Nicola Cronin (Senior Sustainability Analyst) a…

1
Essential Considerations When Creating a Survey 12:14

10M ago12:14

12:14

In this episode, we explore essential considerations for crafting effective surveys. We begin by emphasizing the importance of defining the purpose of your survey, which serves as a guide through each step of its creation. We discuss how understanding your main goal—whether it's measuring customer satisfaction or academic variables—shapes your ques…

1
The Target Population 7:53

10M ago7:53

7:53

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 survey, and in relation to your sampling frame. We offer examples of target populations of various studies, and offer suggestions for the types of variables that you may want to consider when thinking ab…

1
How can we embed sustainable design into the construction process? With Mhairi Grant (Paper Igloo) 1:10:01

10M ago1:10:01

1:10:01

Jeff invited Mhairi Grant, co founder of award-winning architectural practice Paper Igloo, to join us to talk about the challenges of ensuring that one's ideas for sustainable design actually make their way through to the construction phase. The subject was sparked by a conversation she and Jeff had about lessons learned from a flawed project (that…

1
An Interview with James McCall, Survey Methodologist 28:05

10M ago28:05

28:05

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 career of surveys. We talk about his role as a survey methodologist in industry. We discuss cognitive testing, data scripts, and other elements of the art and science of survey design. We also discuss …

1
Design Elements - Progress Bars, Back Buttons, Forced Responses, and More! 27:09

10M ago27:09

27:09

In this episode, we explore the key design elements of effective surveys, emphasizing the importance of user-friendly experiences and reliable data collection. But first, in our free talk segment we discuss the compensation structure of the YouGov platform. Then, we highlight practical tips like strategic question ordering, clear language use, and …

1
Why is making UK homes more efficient so difficult? Leyla Boulton (Green Conservation; Financial Times) 1:06:44

10M ago1:06:44

1:06:44

Why is making UK homes more efficient so difficult? So asked journalist Leyla Boulton earlier this year in the pages of the Financial Times. Seeing a retrofit article in the FT piqued our interest, even more so once we realised Leyla is a senior editor with an esteemed background in political and environmental reporting. She was reporting on Kyoto …

1
A Conversation About the Trust and Distrust of Surveys 21:59

10M ago21:59

21:59

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 State University. We then explore why many people distrust surveys and some things we can do to regain their trust. We discuss key issues like sensitive topics, the impact of interviewer identity, and the …

1
The Monetary Costs of Conducting Surveys - Part 1 17:29

11M ago17:29

17:29

In this episode, we explore the costs associated with conducting surveys. We start by debunking the common misconception that surveys are free, highlighting the significant expenses involved in various survey methods—from internet to mixed-mode surveys which are needed to collect useful data. We explore the astronomical costs of large-scale efforts…

1
What can we do about waste in construction? Diversion from landfill isn't enough and there's money to be made. With Chris Clarke (SCAPE) 1:05:50

11M ago1:05:50

1:05:50

In the UK every day the construction industry produces enough waste to fill a football stadium. Rightly, former guest, Chris Clarke (SCAPE) has got a bee in his bonnet about construction waste and is making efforts to draw attention to the issue. He's not just concerned with the profligate use of resources and the impact on carbon emissions, it's t…

1
Sample Design - Part 2. The Sampling Frame 19:53

11M ago19:53

19:53

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 why it's crucial for ensuring your survey reaches the right target population. We discuss the four key elements of an ideal sampling frame: comprehensiveness, accuracy, specificity, and accessibility. A…

1
Net zero neighbourhoods and financing change, with Cat Magill (Living Places) 1:10:55

11M ago1:10:55

1:10:55

Something-like twelve months on from inception we thought we'd catch up with what's happening at Living Places, the multi-disciplinary, impact-focused consultancy co-founded by this week's guest Cat Magill. Where last year Rufus Grantham came on the podcast to tell us all about the organisation he was in the midst of founding, this year Cat joined …

1
Writing Good Survey Questions - Part 2. Response Options 9:39

11M ago9:39

9:39

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 questions, a crucial component often overlooked in survey design. We explore the significance of well-constructed response options in enhancing data quality and the pitfalls of poorly designed ones that can…

1
Writing Good Survey Questions - Part 1. Base Questions 11:54

12M ago11:54

11:54

In this episode, we delve into the art of crafting effective survey questions. We discuss the importance of clear and precise wording, avoiding biases, and the impact of question formats on data quality. Learn practical tips for designing questions that yield accurate and meaningful data, whether for academic research, market analysis, or feedback …

1
Running a successful retrofit one-stop-shop isn't easy but it can be done, with Caroline Ashe Brady (KORE Retrofit) 1:16:22

12M ago1:16:22

1:16:22

This week's guest is Caroline Ashe Brady of KORE Retrofit in Ireland, one of the objectively successful one-stop-shop retrofit providers to have emerged over the past few years. Caroline is a business leader who we’re a proper fan of, so apologies in advance for our ‘so Caroline please tell us, why are you so great’ style questioning. That said, yo…

1
The Total Survey Design Method - Reducing Costs, Increasing Benefits, and How to Get the Best Data! 10:55

12M ago10:55

10:55

In this episode, we explore the Total Survey Design Method to maximize data quality. Discover how reducing errors, rooted in social exchange theory, can enhance your survey's effectiveness. We'll delve into the three key factors—cost, benefit, and trust—discussing strategies to minimize respondent burden, highlight benefits, and establish trust. Le…

1
The introduction of large language models (LLMs) and AI to social science research 25:40

12M ago25:40

25:40

In this episode, Tom Emery and Ethan Busby discuss the implications of the introduction of large language models (LLMs) and AI to social science research. Surveys on extremism, conflict and polarisation are hard to study using surveys due to high sensitivity and sample specificity, but can we use large language models (LLMs) to address these challe…

1
Don Dillman – A Reflection in Memoriam 43:10

1y ago43:10

43:10

This episode is a tribute and commemoration of Don Dillman, who is known for his contributions to survey methodology, particularly the development of the Tailored Design Method (TDM) for conducting surveys. The episode reflects on his work as a professor and a mentor, his impact on our careers, and his legacy. Our unscripted conversation includes p…

1
The challenging life of a retrofit coordinator: problems with process, products, and performance, with returning champion Lisa Pasquale 1:13:50

1y ago1:13:50

1:13:50

Returning champion Lisa Ann Pasquale rejoins us on Zero Ambitions to talk about dogs and retrofit. Mainly retrofit though. Informed by Lisa's experiences as a retrofit coordinator, technical lead at RetrofitWorks, and Technical Manager at The Retrofit Academy she knows an awful lot about the challenges faced by retrofit practitioners. Windows, vent…

1
What should we do to get more women into retrofit? Well, we should get behind 'Her Retrofit Space', with Ellora Coupe (Her Own Space and now Her Retrofit Space) 1:29:10

1y ago1:29:10

1:29:10

Returning champion Ellora Coupe joins us to talk about the recent report that Her Own Space has published about the place of women in the retrofit sector, which is heartening, insightful, and damning in equal measure. A great piece of work that everyone interested in the sector should heed. Perhaps more importantly, she's with us to promote the inc…

1
The Four Sources of Survey Error 10:35

1y ago10:35

10:35

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 pizzeria owner aiming to conduct an ethical survey. We delve into coverage error, sampling error, measurement error, and non-response error, explaining how each can distort survey results. By using Mario'…

1
Building better performance: raising construction standards on site and in education, with Joseph Little (TUD) 1:22:39

1y ago1:22:39

1:22:39

This week we're going by Joseph Little, Head of Construction & Building Performance in the School of Architecture, Building and Environment at TU Dublin. He joined us to talk about the journey he's been on leading the MSc in Building Performance over the last seven years, but we got into a lot more. Joseph has been deeply involved in the promotion …

1
Sample Design - Part 1. Sample Size - or why just over 1000 responses is enough to generalize findings to millions of people! 13:18

1y ago13:18

13:18

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 just about 1000 responses can represent the views of millions, debunking common misconceptions about survey sampling. We'll dive into the key parameters for calculating sample size, such as margin of …

1
How to Lie with Surveys 12:48

1y ago12:48

12:48

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." They discuss common survey pitfalls, from bad question design to poor sampling, and provide real-world examples, such as misleading questions in political surveys and biased sampling in product ratings. This epis…

1
FAIR principles implementation in survey research with Steve McEachern 41:49

1y ago41:49

41:49

In this episode, Dr. Tom Emery discusses the WorldFAIR project and FAIR principles implementation with regard to survey research methods with Dr. Steve McEachern, focusing on several key points: What are the FAIR principles, and why are they important? What challenges arise when implementing FAIR principles in survey research? What is machine actio…

1
Retrofit as a movement for social change (there's more to it all than fabric and finance), with Dan Hill (Dark Matter Labs) 1:13:09

1y ago1:13:09

1:13:09

This week we're thinking about retrofit differently with Dan Hill from Dark Matter Labs (DML). Or rather, we're talking about retrofit's potential to become a movement for social change. In reality, retrofit is about much more than fabric and economics, it's about people and how they live. With that in mind we should be thinking much more about eng…

1
Place-based hybrid finance to rebuild Ukraine and catalyse better building standards everywhere, with Iva Merheim Eyre (SMARTER4EU) 1:11:08

1y ago1:11:08

1:11:08

This week we're joined by Iva Merheim Eyre from SMARTER4EU to talk about her recently published report the Catalogue of Good Practices, a document that details a variety of place-based hybrid finance models that have been used to rebuild and renovate homes in locations as wide-ranging as the postwar Balkan states to London's own Westminster. This i…

1
The Utility of Surveys 8:02

1y ago8:02

8:02

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 opinion and decision-making. They share examples, like A&W's marketing mishap with their third-pound burger, and the importance of surveys in evaluating high-cost programs. From business insights to e…

1
Intro to the Podcast 4:02

1y ago4:02

4:02

In this debut episode of "Total Survey Design," hosts Azdren Coma and Seon Yup Lee introduce listeners to the intricacies and importance of surveys. Exploring the basics of survey creation and analysis, they discuss their professional backgrounds and the podcast's goals, including helping various audiences—from small business owners to academics—ma…

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