At the 11th European Survey Research Association (ESRA) Conference 14-18 July 2025 in Utrecht, data scientist Dr. Susanne de Vogel presented the work of the interdisciplinary help desk established at the Data Science Center (DSC) as part of the BMFTR-funded data competence center DataNord. The biennial ESRA conference is one of the largest international events in survey methodology, bringing together experts from across Europe and beyond to exchange insights on innovations in survey research.
On her poster “Empowering Data Literacy for Survey Researchers: Insights from the Interdisciplinary Help-Desk of the Data Competence Center ‘DataNord’”, Susanne highlighted how the DSC supports researchers in navigating the growing complexity of modern survey research. These include integrating data science methods, new data types, such as social media or administrative data, ethical–legal–social aspects (ELSA), and fostering critical thinking in data use and analysis.
The presentation showcased trainings, individual consultations, and collaborative networks that help strengthen data literacy of survey researchers across disciplines. A key strength of the help-desk is its interdisciplinary team composition. By combining expertise from, social sciences, statistics, natural sciences and humanities, the DSC is able to connect perspectives:
- For survey researchers, the help-desk provides training and consultation to strengthen their ability to work with complex data sources, adopt methods from data science, and integrate approaches from other disciplines.
- For researchers outside the field of social sciences, the DSC offers support in designing and implementing surveys, especially for those without formal training in survey methods.
The poster presented at ESRA 2025 is openly available on Zenodo: Empowering Data Literacy for Survey Researchers. By showcasing examples and best practices from the DataNord help-desk, the contribution underlined the importance of data literacy as a core competency for today’s survey researchers – from beginners to advanced practitioners. More information about the conference can be found on the ESRA 2025 website.
The DSC’s participation in ESRA 2025 highlights the growing importance of data literacy in international survey research. With its interdisciplinary approach, the DSC brings together methodological, social science, and data science perspectives to address key challenges in contemporary survey research. At the same time, the exchange with the international research community provides valuable insights that feed directly into the further development of the DSC’s consulting and training services within the DataNord project.
Further Links:
More about ESRA 2025
Link to the Poster on Zenodo
If you have any questions, please contact:
Dr. Susanne de Vogel
DSC Data Scientist
Tel. +49 (421) 218 63938
E-Mail: devogelprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de
