Survey tool pilot

We are running a pilot in the coming months to compare several survey and questionnaire tools. Please send us a message if you like to help!

Using questionnaires and surveys in your research

Questionnaires are a data collection method that you may choose to use for your projects/studies. These data collection methods involve gathering information from or about individuals, their perceptions and/or actions.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING GDPR AND ETHICS: The UT and faculty are working on more centralized policies and procedures regarding Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and GRPD. There is a flowchart available to help you understand how your research complies with GDPR (open de PDF listed under "Appropriate use of personal data in scientific research").

When preparing a study, you must always follow proper procedures by submitting your request to the Ethics Committee.

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Below are general tips and suggestions which are subject to change, always discuss your detailed research plans with your supervisor, as well as the ethics check that is required by the university.

Best practices for surveys include starting off with an introductory statement, which will help inform the participant about the survey. There are several things to include:

• Overview of the reason for the survey
• The research title
• Time to complete the survey.
• The purpose of the research (for a class, a report, a thesis).
• How the data collected will be stored, anonymized, deleted or shared. With who and via what methods.
• Is the data confidential or anonymized?
• Risks associated with participation.
• Contact information for the researchers.
• A statement that participation is voluntary and that they can withdraw at any time.

There are several books and other sources to you help you design your questions like Understanding your users by Kathy Baxter, Catherine Courage, and Kelly Caine. Running a pilot survey with a college may help you understand how others see the questions so you can get the most out of the survey.

In addition to the introduces you will need a Consent statement. (you will need to define this for your ethics check as well)

• You must get consent for the gathering of data or to use a person in research.
• Keep this in simple language.
• Keep in mind if underaged individuals will come in contact with your survey.

Recommendations for platforms

There will be additional information coming regarding the recommendations for platforms but currently, the recommendations are

• Qualtrics online survey tool (for use by staff and students in the BMS faculty)
• Students may use their Google account for creating surveys, since it is hosted within the EU.
• Students also have access to the forms via their student Microsoft account. There is a data processing agreement for SharePoint, students can make a site in SharePoint and then make the survey (called a forms) within the Microsoft account site.

As additional recommendations come this page will be updated.