1. Cassi Winslow-Edmonson
Assistant Director
Indiana University- Career Development Center
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2. Understand the survey design process
Write survey questions and responses
guided by social science best practices
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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
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4. Establish a timeline – see handout
Know your budget
Decide on a survey collection method
Create a back up plan
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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
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6. Recommendation 1: Keep it simple and
specific.
ACTIVITY
How many career courses have you taken?
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7. Recommendation 2: Work from easy to
hard
 The first question should relate to the topic
and be easy to answer.
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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
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9. Recommendation 3: Put important
questions towards the beginning
 Survey fatigue is a common issue
Questions of fact vs. questions of opinion
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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
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11. Recommendation 5: Place demographic
questions at the end
Ease students in and ease them out
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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
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13. Recommendation 6: Avoid double barreled
questions and responses.
Sample Question:
How would you rate your advising session and career
advisor?
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14. Recommendation 7: Borrow questions.
 Compare findings
 Make them work for your students
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15. Recommendation 8: Don’t make response
lists too long.
 Students lose interest
 Think about phone administration
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16. Recommendation 9: Create a logical flow
 Computer logic?
 Refer to your survey plan
 General to broad
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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
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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
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19.  Check your survey with your students (3-
10 if possible)
 Proximity to the project issues
 Don’t marry your work of art
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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
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21.  Administer
 Prepare for follow up
 Have a back up plan
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22.  Excel
 SPSS
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23. For any questions, feel free to
email me at
cmwinslo@indiana.edu
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