24–26 November 2026 University of Milan, Department of Social and Political Sciences
The call for the 2026 spsTREND Survey School is open!
School focus: Multilevel models for comparative survey data
Comparative survey data often come layered like a set of nested worlds: individuals within regions, regions within countries, observations across time. This course provides the conceptual and practical tools needed to navigate that complexity using multilevel modelling techniques.
Participants will engage with:
- the structure of international survey data and issues of comparability
- fixed- and random-effects models to explain variation within and between groups
- longitudinal approaches that distinguish within- and between-unit dynamics
- applications to the study of social and political attitudes and behaviours
Through guided R sessions, participants will also replicate and critically assess a published study based on Eurobarometer data, linking methodological choices to substantive interpretation.
Instructor
The course will be taught by Malcolm Fairbrother (Uppsala University & Institute for Futures Studies), a leading scholar in quantitative sociology and comparative research.
His work spans environmental politics, social and political trust, and globalization, with a strong focus on advanced quantitative methods. He has published in leading journals such as the European Sociological Review, Journal of Public Policy, and Political Science Research and Methods.
Participants will benefit from his expertise not only through lectures and lab sessions, but also through direct engagement during project discussions.
What selected participants will do
Participants will:
- take part in advanced lectures and R laboratory sessions
- present their research project to peers and faculty
- receive detailed, constructive feedback from discussants within the spsTREND Lab
Call for proposals
The spsTREND Survey School invites applications from PhD and Master students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career scholars interested in advancing their work using multilevel models for comparative survey data.
This three-day intensive programme combines lectures, hands-on R lab sessions, and participants’ presentations, creating a setting where ideas are not only presented but actively shaped, challenged, and refined.
What we are looking for
Applicants will be asked to provide brief academic information and to upload a research proposal of approximately 600 words along with a motivation statement (maximum 200 words) explaining their interest in the course and its relevance to their research.
Projects should demonstrate:
- a clear theoretical framework
- a well-defined methodological approach
- concrete research objectives
Submissions may focus on the analysis of social and political attitudes and values using comparative survey data, including cross-national or longitudinal perspectives.
Participants are required to submit a full draft of their proposed research two weeks before the start of the school.
Selection criteria
Participants will be selected by the scientific committee based on:
- methodological background
- quality and feasibility of the proposed project
- thematic fit with the school
A minimum of 8 and a maximum of 15 participants will be admitted.
Practical information
- Location: University of Milan, Department of Social and Political Sciences
- Dates: 24–26 November 2026
- Fee: Participation is free of charge
- Application deadline: 30/06/2026
- Notification of acceptance: by the end of July 2026
- Deadline to submit final research draft: November 10th 2026
How to apply
Applications should be submitted via the online form available here:
2026 Organizing Committee: Giulia Dotti Sani, Simona Guglielmi, Francesco Molteni, Andrea Pedrazzani, Simone Sarti, Zeynep Mentesoglu, Marta Moroni, Chiara, Moruzzi Alice Sanarico
For any questions, please contact spstrend@unimi.it
Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash