In general, survey research is used by program review committees when the unit being studied has a broad spectrum of key customers throughout the university. These include such units as Residence Life, University Unions, University Health Center, etc. Surveys are used to:
- Gather quantitative unit performance data
- Measure constituent satisfaction in key areas
- Learn key strengths and areas of needed improvement
When designing surveys, remember:
- Use the pyramid approach - start with general questions and move to the specific
- If you must use potentially "loaded" or negative questions, move those to the end of the survey
- Be as specific as possible with each question
- Think about making it easy to respond to:
- Keep it short - five minutes to complete of less
- Assure confidentiality and anonymity
- Provide an initial invitation and follow-up reminder
Tips for Survey Questions
| This... | Is better than this... |
|---|---|
| Please rate the level of friendliness you've experienced with the unit on the following scale. |
Please rate the unit's friendliness and professionalism on the following scale. |
| Do you plan to use the unit's services in the next 30 days? | Will you use the unit's services in the future? |
| Please rank the following 5 unit services in order based on their importance to you. |
Please rank the following 15 unit services in order based on their importance to you. |
| Do you know the processor in your desktop computer? If yes, please write it in the space provided. |
Do you use the Pentium 17.6 giga-processor in your current desktop computer? |
| Please rate the unit's handling of paperwork on the following scale. |
How often has the unit lost your paperwork? |
| Of the following choices, what do you consider the appropriate fee for student parking on campus? |
Do you think it's fair that students have to pay for parking on campus? |
| How would you rate the department's apparent commitment to your learning? |
Does the department care about student learning? |
The university uses the Qualtrics survey tool to conduct our program-review related surveys. If you need assistance with accessing Qualtrics or need help with your survey, please contact: Tina Grace – Office of Institutional Research (x86830).
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