Surveys

The purpose of survey research is to gather data in a systematic manner to identify patterns, trends, opinions, or experiences of a target population. At Pennsylvania Western University, surveys serve to:

Analyze opinions, experiences and institutional effectiveness
Aid in data collection for research studies
Assess and improve current programs

Policies and Guidelines

Personal information gathered through surveys must be protected and kept confidential in accordance with University policies. Faculty and staff are required to follow these guidelines on data collection and responsibility to ensure data privacy and security.

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Institutional Review Board (IRB)

Since surveys involve human participants, they may need to be reviewed by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) when classified as research. Surveys that include sensitive questions or involve protected populations might still require IRB approval, even without being classified as research. Please contact PennWest IRB Director, Nik Roberts, for more details.

Surveys that do not involve sensitive questions or potential risks to participants can use the Exemption Determination Form to determine if the study qualifies for exemption. If the IRB grants an exemption, the study materials must not imply IRB review and approval. Be sure to consult the PennWest exemption guidelines. Although a study may be exempt from federal regulations, it must follow ethical principles set forth in the Belmont Report to ensure that participants are fully informed and voluntarily consent to participate in the survey, including interviews.

Survey Review Process

To ensure that surveys are conducted without overwhelming students, faculty, and staff, the Institutional Research Office (IR) manages a review process. This process regulates and limits the number of surveys that PennWest community receives, balancing the need for survey information with the impact on participants.

The review process is designed to:

Minimize survey fatigue and avoid over-surveying.
Optimize survey schedule to maximize their effectiveness.
Promote best practices in survey design, sampling, and administration.
Maintain ethical standards in survey research, respecting the time and attention of our community members
Focus on surveys that align with the University’s overarching goals.
Ensure adherence to FERPA guidelines and IRB requirements.

Next Steps

Ready to gain actionable insights? We offer assistance in designing surveys that are tailored to your research or evaluation needs. Our survey specialist can work with you to develop clear and effective questions that ensure the collection of relevant and accurate data. For more information on how survey services can help with your program needs, please contact Serene Yen.

Please include information for the following questions when emailing us:

What are the research questions or objectives for the survey?
What is the estimated timeline for the study?
Who is the target population of the survey?
Will participants receive incentives?
Who will you share the survey results with?
Have you drafted a questionnaire, or will you be using an existing one, or do you need help creating one?

Survey Calendar

Institutional Research coordinates and manages a variety of surveys involving PennWest students, faculty, staff, prospective students, and parents. These surveys may be conducted independently or as part of the collaborative initiatives. For a detailed list and timeline of surveys, please refer to our interactive Survey Calendar.

Example Survey Calendar

Survey Name	Target Population	Campus or Unit	Frequency	Last Administration
ITV Faculty Experience Survey	ITV Faculty	PW Academic Unit	Every Term	Nov. 2024
ITV Student Experience Survey	ITV Students	PW Academic Unit	Every Term	Nov. 2024
Commencement Survey	Graduates	Student Affairs	Bi-annual	Dec. 2024
Commencement Volunteer Survey	PW Employees/Students	Student Affairs		Dec. 2024
Student Athlete Experience Survey	Student Athlete	Student Affairs		Aug. 2024
Athlete Interest Survey (Title 9)	Students	Clarion Athletic Dept	Every three years	Nov. 2024
Student Experience with Directed Self-Placement	English 1100/1200 Students	PW English Department		Sep. 2024
FYS Pre-Course Survey	FYS Students	PW English Department	TBD	Aug. 2024
FYS Post-Course Survey	FYS Students	PW English Department	TBD	Nov. 2024
NSSE	First-Year & Senior Bachelor’s Degree Seeking Students	PennWest	Every three years	Mar. 2025
Student Center Survey	On-Campus Students	PW Student Center	Annual	Feb. 2025
Head Coach Survey	Student Athletes	PW Athletic Departments	Every Term	Nov. 2024
Assistant Coach Survey	Student Athletes	PW Athletic Departments	Every Term	Nov. 2024