2. Understand the survey design process
Write survey questions and responses
guided by social science best practices
A B C D E
3. What are you trying to measure or learn
from your students?
KEY: Start broad and then go into specifics
Refer to handout: Sample Plan
A B C D E
4. Establish a timeline – see handout
Know your budget
Decide on a survey collection method
Create a back up plan
A B C D E
5. Recommendation 1: Keep it simple and
specific.
Get readability scores from Microsoft Word
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/test-your-
document-s-readability-HP010354286.aspx
Add summary judgments, specific times,
measurements
A B C D E
6. Recommendation 1: Keep it simple and
specific.
ACTIVITY
How many career courses have you taken?
A B C D E
7. Recommendation 2: Work from easy to
hard
The first question should relate to the topic
and be easy to answer.
A B C D E
8. Recommendation 2: Work from easy to hard
Potential first question:
What is your plan following graduation? I am ….
A. Seeking or have any type of professional
employment (part-time, full-time, internship)
B. Seeking or have admission for additional education
(Master’s, Professional, Ph.D., 2nd Bachelors)
C. Not seeking employment or additional education
(volunteering, traveling)
D. Other
A B C D E
9. Recommendation 3: Put important
questions towards the beginning
Survey fatigue is a common issue
Questions of fact vs. questions of opinion
A B C D E
10. Recommendation 4: Be engaging
Add some personality throughout the
survey, ie: “Thanks for sticking with us” or
“Only three more questions”
Add an interesting fact from last year’s
data
A B C D E
11. Recommendation 5: Place demographic
questions at the end
Ease students in and ease them out
A B C D E
12. Recommendation 6: Avoid double barreled
questions and responses.
When students can’t answer the question,
they will most likely quit.
Your data will not be accurate
A B C D E
13. Recommendation 6: Avoid double barreled
questions and responses.
Sample Question:
How would you rate your advising session and career
advisor?
A B C D E
14. Recommendation 7: Borrow questions.
Compare findings
Make them work for your students
A B C D E
15. Recommendation 8: Don’t make response
lists too long.
Students lose interest
Think about phone administration
A B C D E
16. Recommendation 9: Create a logical flow
Computer logic?
Refer to your survey plan
General to broad
A B C D E
17. Recommendation 10: Using “other” or
“prefer not to disclose”
Open vs. Closed Questions
How much time do you have to commit?
10% rule
Sensitive Questions
A B C D E
18. Recommendation 4: Using “Other” or “Prefer not to
disclose”
What will your annual salary range be in US dollars?
Below $16,000
$16,000 - $20,999
$21,000 - $25,999
$26,000 - $30,999
$31,000 - $35,999
$36,000 - $40,999
$41,000 - $45,999
$46,000 - $50,999
$51,000 - $60,999
$61,000 - $65,999
$66,000 - $70,999
$71,000 - $75,999
$76,000 - $80,999
$81,000 - $85,999
$86,000 - $90,999
$91,000 - $95,999
$96,000 - $100,999
More Than $101,000
A B C D E
19. Check your survey with your students (3-
10 if possible)
Proximity to the project issues
Don’t marry your work of art
A B C D E
20. Things to cover:
• Thank you
• Introduce your office
• Explain the purpose of the survey and how you
will use the information
• Confidentiality information
• Estimate of how long it will take
• Incentive information
A B C D E