How to Lead into a Student Affairs Survey

Madison, Wis.—June 20 — When using a survey to gather information in student affairs, it’s not just the construction of the survey itself that matters. The material that leads into and out of the survey also counts.

Darby Roberts, associate director of Student Life Studies at Texas A&M University, shared this and other advice on student affairs assessment during the June 20 online seminar “Using Surveys in Student Affairs Assessment.”

During the workshop, Roberts suggested including the following elements in the introduction to your survey, perhaps in a cover letter or email:
• The purpose of the survey
• How the information collected will be used
• A deadline for responding and time required to complete the survey
• Contact information of the sponsoring unit/office if respondents have questions or comments about the survey

These items help you tackle the ethical issues involved in surveying students. You need to help the students make informed decisions about whether they want to respond or not, Roberts said. Your institution’s research board can help you with this, she noted.

The introductory material should also inform potential respondents of the importance of their participation. “They’ll be more likely to do this again if they know their responses are valued,” Roberts said.

Concluding material should not just express your thanks but let respondents know if and/or when the results will be available. You might also want to include resources students can access for more information about the survey topic.

“That particularly comes into play if you’re working with a sensitive topic,” Roberts said. These topics include alcohol, drugs, sex, illegal activity, and mental health. Again, your campus’ institutional research board can guide you through this process, she said.

If you missed the seminar and would like to order a transcript or CD of the event, click here to visit our online catalog.

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