Survey Research

Our team solely uses the Class Climate surveying systems for our survey research.  Class Climate allows us to administer instruments online or as scannable paper forms.  Since we own our survey software (we do not use third-party survey systems), we can ensure the security and integrity of our survey data.  The system is on a password-protected, secure Georgia State University server that only our team members can access.  It also allows us to control for survey access and response duplication.

If you are using another surveying tool for your research, we can help in some areas (e.g., developing questions for you to use), though maintenance and management will be your responsibility.

We administer surveys via paper or online administration.  Please note that we can develop and administer your survey through more than one method.

Paper Surveys

The paper survey is helpful for collecting data on the spot and often provides a higher response rate when data is collected at a public event (e.g., classroom, event).

To view an example of a paper survey, click here.

Online Surveys

Our online surveys have the following capabilities for distribution:

• Scannable QR codes
• Emailed surveys
• Reusable links

Types of Online Surveys

Single Link surveys: We can develop a single online survey link, which can be used multiple times by anyone who has access to it.  Unless you have questions that identify the user, the survey will be anonymous.

Individual/Personal Link Surveys: Each participant is given an individual survey link.  When they submit the survey, the link will close and no one else can use it.  In developing the individual survey link, we may also create reminder emails to be sent out to those who have yet to complete the survey.

To view an example of an online survey, click here.

• Open Response: The open response question is ideal for collecting qualitative data.  It is important to note that while this question type allows us to obtain data that may not have been collected through limited response question types, ClassClimate currently can only compile participant responses numerically and/or alphabetically
• Likert Scale: The Likert scale question enables a participant to identify exactly where their judgment falls on any given topic. We can develop individual pole labels and extended pole labels through this question type
• Single Choice questions
• Multiple-Choice qustions
• Matrix Field: The Matrix allows participants to define their answers with text or numerals only.  This is a useful question type for assigning overall grades for various topics
• ICR Handwriting Recognition: this is a good question type to use in paper surveys for obtaining important information, such as email addresses, names, etc.  In our online surveys, we often use it to limit the number of numerals or letters in questions (for information such as salaries, phone numbers, etc.)
• Grade Value Question: If you would like the participant to give a precise grade for a topic/area, the grade value question will allow you to do so

As the expert in your area, you may be familiar with topics in your survey that we or the participants may not be familiar with.  If you plan on discussing any of these topics/areas, please provide us with those descriptions or definitions.

For online survey administration, we will likely need a list of email addresses for your survey participants.  If you have this information, you will need to send it to us (and if it contains FERPA-protected information such as student information, you will need to share it via sendafile).

If you do not have a list of survey participants but know of the population(s) you wish to survey, please let us know and we can pull data from GSU internal records (information from students, faculty, staff, alumni, etc.).  Any information from stakeholders outside of our university will have to be collected and provided by you.

Anonymous Surveys: The anonymous survey is sent out through individual survey links.  In developing an anonymous survey, we are no longer able to track who has completed the survey but can see what percentage and quantity of the population has completed the survey.  Because participants are not directly tracked, we are unable to develop survey reminders for those who have not completed their survey.  To note, we can also make anonymous paper surveys if they do not have any questions that ask for identifying factors of the participant (e.g., panther ID number, name, etc.).

Non-anonymous Surveys: We are also able to track participants through our online surveys but must make the participants aware of this prior to taking the survey.  For paper surveys, we would add identifying questions to the surveys to collect their identifying information.

If you are planning to launch a survey or would like our assistance in your survey research, please complete this form.

When you are planning administration dates, we kindly ask that it does not interfere with too many of our ongoing surveys (to prevent survey fatigue).  If you would like for us to assist you with your surveying process, we can plan survey dates that won't interfere with our other surveys.

If you decide to administer the survey independently from our office, we ask that you work with us to find an administration time that will not interfere with our ongoing surveys.  In doing so, you will help us ensure a higher participation rate for both your survey and ours.

Please review our calendar for current and future survey information.

When we are accepting or providing data containing sensitive information, we ask that the information is only shared through GSU's Sendafile, which encrypts data messages to protect this information.

When we develop reports from survey research, we maintain the raw data.  We can provide reports, summaries and visualized findings from this research, but can only share the raw data under certain circumstances.

If you would like to obtain data that was collected by the IR survey team for another individual’s or group’s research, we must obtain written permission from that party prior to sharing it with you.  We are unable to share data results with other parties outside of the original research requestor(s) unless explicitly expressed by the original requester.  If you need specific data, please reach out to the person(s) initially involved in the data.

While we can administer online surveys and their announcements, any additional external communication to your participants regarding their participation (e.g., outgoing emails to be sent by you) should be handled by you/your office.

If you are seeking assistance with an Institutional Review Board (IRB) project, we ask that you provide us with the following items and information:

• IRB outcome letter
• Approved study protocol (from your IRB account, a PDF file)
• Survey links(s)
• Description of population (paragraph stating your population definition: e.g., 18 years old or older, undergraduate students currently enrolled, online, specific course or program, etc.)
• Description of survey administration process (paragraph stating steps of your survey administration, e.g., n of reminders, frequency of reminders, etc.)
• Survey period (which will say is subject to change based on our availability)
• Survey recruitment letter (reminder message, if different from the original letter)
• Other important information about your survey administration, if applicable

If you would like for us to build a paper survey instrument for your research, there are several steps to follow to ensure proper data processing.  After we create a paper survey instrument that you approve, we will send you a PDF of the finalized version.  It is then your responsibility to print the surveys and collect the survey data.  Please follow the following steps carefully to optimize your survey collection:

Printing Surveys

• When printing, you should use bright white 25 lb. paper to ensure ink fluid does not mark the other side of the survey.  Alternatively, you may also print single-sided on regular printer paper.
• Be sure you are printing the survey so that it looks like the PDF file we sent you - the margins need to be exact in order for the data to be properly processed in our survey scanning machine.

Survey Administration & Data Reporting

• It is best to not staple the survey sheets together, as this may make it difficult to process the data.
• Participants may use pencils or pens (we advise against using red pens) to complete their surveys.  Please make sure to keep the surveys dry and clean so they can be processed in our scanner.
• When you are finished collecting data, you will set a time/date with us to bring in the surveys for processing.  The majority of our data interpretation is developed soon after the surveys are scanned.